Northwest Blooms · Perennials
Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night'
May Night Sage
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Height
- 18 to 24 in
- Width
- 18 to 24 in
- Flower color
- Deep violet-blue flower spikes with darker purple calyces
- Foliage color
- Medium green, lance-shaped, lightly textured leaves forming a compact basal clump
- Bloom time
- Late spring to early summer
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low, shear back spent flower spikes to encourage rebloom
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 4 to 8
- Wildlife
- Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators
About this plant
Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' produces upright flower spikes densely packed with deep violet-blue blossoms that emerge in late spring and continue into early summer, often followed by repeat flowering later in the season. The blooms are held above narrow, deep green foliage that forms orderly clumps and provides a strong backdrop for the dark-toned calyces, which deepen the overall color effect.
'May Night' has become a staple in ornamental gardens. It fits naturally into borders, mixed perennial beds, and mass plantings, where its vertical form adds structure. It also performs well along paths and edges, offering dependable seasonal color and a steady rhythm of bloom year after year.
Works well in
Borders · Sun Gardens · Pollinator Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Yarrow · Ornamental grasses · Garden phlox · Black-eyed Susans · Daylilies · Lavender
Design tip
The long summer show pairs well with plants that peak earlier, keeping one area interesting for months. Give it open sun and room to fill out, and repeat it in threes or fives so the planting reads as one sweep instead of scattered dots.
