Salvia Indigo Spires
I have often wondered what would happen if I pinched back my plants in
late spring, when they are about 2 feet high. Instead, I deadhead the
spent flowers after the first bloom, usually in early to mid-summer. New
branchlets form and the next wave of flowers comes on with the bigger
spires already blooming. So, it seems reasonable to assume that since
the plant is so vigorous, you could pinch it back through the summer to
keep it more compact. Personally, I think the plant is more beautiful
when it's tall and the gorgeous flowers are waving in the wind,
challenging the pollinators to home in on a moving target.
About flopping ... I tie up the tallest stems to those thin, 5-foot,
green bamboo stakes. The takes and branches blend in together and the
stakes are strong enough to hold the plant up through the first gales of
the wet season.
By the way, my three S. "Indigo Spires" plants all survived last
December's freeze — temps down to about 17 degrees F. Thought I'd
mention it, in case someone is wondering if the plant is suitable to
grow where they are.
Paul Harrar
Nevada City, California
Sunset Zone 7
2,700 feet.
