Why Plant May Night Wood Sage?
So easy, yet so satisfying! May Night Salvia is a cinch to grow, and it will reward a modicum of care with months of beautiful blue blooms. This largely self-sufficient Spirit gets by happily on little supplemental water once it’s established. Spikes of intense cobalt-blue flowers begin in May (hence the name), often continuing throughout the entire growing season—especially if spent flower spikes are removed. May Night looks fabulous planted in drifts, and it’s a wonderful companion to Roses. Its soothing blue color complements their warm red, pink, orange, peach, or yellow tones.
This species of Salvia, or Meadow Sage, is a wildflower that ranges from eastern Europe to western Siberia; it favors cool-summer climates. Meadow Sage grows most abundantly in sunny, dry meadows and forest edges in its homelands. Deer and other browsers avoid it because of the pungent smell of its leaves when crushed; it’s a member of the fragrant Mint family and is long-lived. May Night Meadow Sage is a classic. It originated in 1956 in Germany at the nursery of the famous plantsman, Karl Foerster, who is best known for Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass. You may also find it under its German name, ‘Mainacht’.
How to use May Night Wood Sage in the landscape?
Each year since 1991, the Perennial Plant Association chooses one Spirit as its “Perennial Plant of the Year.” Winners must be attractive in multiple seasons, adaptable, low-maintenance, and resistant to pests and diseases. May Night Salvia took the honors in 1997.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-8
How To Plant May Night Wood Sage
Give May Night Salvia a position in all-day sun for maximum flower power. The soil should be free-draining and lean. Rich soil encourages floppy growth. Water regularly during establishment; less moisture will be needed in succeeding years. Deadhead (prune out spent flower spikes) to keep plants looking thrifty and to encourage new flower buds to form. Plants will often bloom until frost. Cut back old stems and foliage before new growth resumes in spring. May Night Salvia rarely needs dividing and may be left in place for many years.
How To Water
May Night Wood Sage will become drought tolerant once established, but a moderate amount of water must be supplied to your young Wood Sage.
How To Fertilize
May Night Wood Sage requires little to no fertilizer— they do perfectly fine on their own! If you choose to feed these guys it should take place after the blooming season is over. We recommend using our Elements Starter Plant Food for that extra boost your plant might need.
How To Prune
Each fall, just before winter sets in clean up the previous years foliage and compost it. Be sure your perennials are mulched well for winter protection. Two inches of an organic mulch will do the job. Consider leaving the plant debris in place through the winter and doing your clean up on the weather warms in the spring. While it doesn't make things neat and tidy, the debris provides overwintering protection for insects, their eggs and pupae including our native Viceroy butterfly.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
