Bumbleblue Salvia: A Violet-Blue Echo of Lavender in Miniature

Bumbleblue salvia is a small plant with a lot of flowers. In early summer its compact mound is covered with evenly spaced spikes of violet-blue florets held in purplish calyxes, and bumblebees visit constantly while it is in bloom.

Of all the salvias, this kind of violet-blue is the closest match to lavender's own color. Planted together, the two blend so naturally that the eye reads them as one long sweep of purple-blue spikes, one silver and one deep green.

Bumbleblue at a glance

Filling lavender's gaps

A young lavender planting can look sparse for its first year or two. Bumbleblue is quick to fill in and stays small enough not to crowd the lavender as it grows. Tuck single plants between young lavenders or run a row along the front.

Timing helps too. Bumbleblue opens in early June, slightly ahead of most lavender, so the purple-blue color starts sooner. Shear it after the first flush and the rebloom arrives after the lavender harvest, so the bed keeps a hint of blue into late summer. Its stiff, heavily branched stems keep it tidy in small spaces, a good choice for container edges and narrow borders along a walk. The Companion Plant Planner helps with spacing.

Planting and care

• Site: full, hot sun. It is very heat and drought tolerant once established.
• Soil: average and well drained. Like lavender, it suffers in wet, heavy winter soil.
• Shearing: cut back by about a third after the first flush. This also clears foliage that may get powdery mildew in muggy weather.
• Feeding: keep it light. Lean soil gives sturdier plants.
• Winter: reliably hardy in Michigan. Leave stems standing over winter or cut back in fall, then tidy up in spring as new leaves emerge.

Plug tray or bare root

Bumbleblue is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for long edging runs and growers, and as a bare root plant for home gardens. See each product page for current availability.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell it apart from lavender in the bed?

Look at the leaves. Bumbleblue has deep green, crinkled leaves, while most lavenders have narrow silver-gray foliage. Salvia flowers are two-lipped and held in calyxes along the spike.

Does it smell like lavender?

The leaves are aromatic with a mild herbal scent, but it does not smell like lavender.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Its compact size suits containers in full sun. Use a well-drained mix.

Keep exploring

• Bumbleblue Salvia 72-Cell Plug Tray
• Bumbleblue Salvia Bare Root Plant
• Companion Plant Library
• Companion Plant Planner
• Lavender Bloom Calendar