Salvia nemorosa Viola Klose - Woodland Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Viola Klose' is a variety of upright and well-branched wood sage that bears an abundance of intense and bright violet-blue spike inflorescences throughout summer. Compact and bushy, this sage is distinguished by its slightly grey lanceolate foliage. Easy to grow, it is one of the hardiest salvias.

Salvia nemorosa is a species in the Lamiaceae family. It is a native species of central Europe and western Asia. 'Viola Klose' is one of its many cultivars. Its adult size will not exceed 50cm (20in) in all directions. This perennial develops from a prostrate rosette of rough, green, ovate leaves with dentate edges, measuring 10cm (4in) long. It has a bushy, highly branched, and compact habit. Flowering occurs from June to August, in terminal clusters composed of numerous small dark violet-blue flowers (0.5 to 1cm (0.4in)) with reddish-brown bracts. This mix of colours produces a luminous effect. The beautiful nectar-rich flower spikes succeed throughout summer and delight butterflies. The leaves, 5 to 1 cm (2 to 4in) long, are ovate or lanceolate, oblong, notched, wavy, and greyish-green. The base of the stems is often reddish.

This wood sage has the advantage of remaining compact, even in soil that is slightly too rich for it. It knows how to behave! It will look superb alongside pale-yellow flowers such as Anthemis 'Wargrave' for a strong contrast, or with grey artemisia foliage and pink flowering plants. It is also perfect for the composition of borders and beds alongside perovskia or perennial geranium.

With over 900 species of annuals, perennials, and softwood shrubs distributed throughout the globe, except for very cold regions and the rainforest, the genus Salvia is the richest in the Lamiaceae family. The name Salvia, dating back to Roman times, derives from the Latin salvus, meaning "healthy", in allusion to the medicinal virtues of common sage.