Nature Profile
Plants
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ (woodland sage)
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
Woodland sage, is an erect, many-branched, woody-based, clump-forming perennial. It is native to Europe and west-central Asia. It features lavender to violet blue flowers with tiny reddish-purple bracts and blooms from June to September. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Leaves are pleasantly aromatic when bruised. Tolerates average to dry well-drained soil in full sun but prefers moist, gravelly or sandy soils with good drainage. Plants may repeat bloom throughout the summer but need regular moisture to encourage this. Plants may become floppy as the summer progresses, particularly in humid climates. If plants flop or otherwise depreciate to the point where they look unsightly, consider cutting them back to the basal foliage. ‘Caradonna’ is noted for its dark purple stems and blue-violet flowers.
Looks impressive combined with Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed) and other warm-colored flowers like Helenium MARIACHI ‘Salsa’ (Helen’s flower or sneezeweed)
[Photo: Salvia_nemorosa_pm; Credit: Peter A. Mansfeld, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons]
Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Early Spring, Summer
Moisture Needs: Average, Dry, Well-Drained
Size: Small
Soil: Sandy
