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Key characteristics

Family: Lamiaceae
Height: 18 to 24 inches
Width: 18 to 24 inches
Flower color: Striking, vibrant purple-blue flowers
Foliage color: Green, with lance-shaped leaves forming a dense basal rosette
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Low
Maintenance: Low
Growing zone: USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8
Wildlife: The tubular flowers attract pollinators, particularly bees and butterflies

Perennials

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’

Caradonna Meadow Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' is a compact herbaceous perennial renowned for its striking spikes of vibrant purple-blue flowers and lance-shaped green leaves forming a dense basal rosette. Blooming in late spring to early summer, its tubular flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, and deadheading spent flowers can encourage continuous blooming and maintain a neat appearance. Thriving in full sun to partial shade with well-draining soil, 'Caradonna' is relatively low-maintenance.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Low

Bloom time

Late spring to early summer

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Pollinator Gardens
Waterwise Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Heucheras · Lady's mantle · Hellebores · Hardy geraniums

Design tip

Summer flowers carry the middle of the season, so place it where the bed needs color once spring bulbs fade. It takes sun or light shade, which makes it useful along the changing light of a bed edge or a partly shaded border.