Salvia microphylla Delice Aquamarine

Salvia microphylla 'Delice Aquamarine' is a brand new shrubby sage with mauve blue flowers from May until the first frost. Its floribundity and its small semi-evergreen aromatic foliage make it a valuable ally for sunny and warm terraces and gardens. Robust but moderately hardy, it will need protection in cold regions.

The small-leaved 'Delice Aquamarine' sage belongs to the large family of Lamiaceae, which offers gardeners numerous aromatic and ornamental plants (thyme, rosemary, catnip, agastache...). This variety comes from a group of salvias native to the mountains of Central America, which gives them an impressive hardiness of around -10°C (14°F). These salvias are woody: their stems harden and form wood, which will however be damaged by strong frost, especially in cold climates. The foliage is semi-evergreen in mild climates, small and ovate, and deliciously aromatic with hints of mint and lemon. This fragrance is particularly pronounced in hot and dry weather, and the essential oils often make the leaves a bit sticky.
Between May and October (or even longer if the weather is mild), the 'Delice Aquamarine' sage produces numerous small flowers in a delicate mauve blue, lilac colour. The dark calyx enhances the overall appearance. It will reach about 70 cm (28in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in width.

The origins of 'Delice Aquamarine' shrubby sage make it a plant well adapted to sunny, dry, chalky, and stony soils (even limestone). Moderately hardy: it will grow without problems in mild and warm climates but will require winter protection if the temperatures in your region frequently drop below -10°C - in which case, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors as soon as frost is expected. If you want to plant it outdoors in a cold region, make sure to provide it with a well-protected location, sheltered from cold winds. You can also mulch its base, but be careful not to choose a material that retains too much moisture: use a mineral mulch such as gravel, as excessive winter water would be fatal to it. If the summer is very dry, 'Delice Aquamarine' sage may need occasional watering to support its flowering, always being careful not to excessively wet its base. You can prune it short in spring to densify but do not do so before the last frost.

Perfect in rock gardens, dry borders, and pots, this sage will form beautiful combinations with other related salvias such as 'Delice Feline', but also with perennials like common marjoram, Tiny Jackpot eryngo, or grasses like admirable feather grass and Bouteloua gracilis.