Salvia patens 'Cambridge Blue'

RHS Plant Profile
gentian sage 'Cambridge Blue'

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gentian sage 'Cambridge Blue' RHS 1994
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Bedding Herbaceous Perennial
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A tuberous-rooted herbaceous perennial to 75cm in height, with large, oval, pale green leaves and slender spikes of light blue, two-lipped flowers 2.5cm across

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Best grown in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun, shelter from cold winds. See our video How to care for tender salvia for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Bedding
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back spent flower spikes to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to sage leafhopper, slugs, snails and rosemary beetle

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots