Unpack bare roots or rhizomes on arrival and plant them within a week. Until then, keep them somewhere cool and ensure the roots remain slightly moist, never wet.
Out of season
Few ornamental border plants surpass the perennial sages for producing summer-long displays of spiky, nectar-rich flowers. And one of the best—and earliest-to-flower—is Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna', a cultivar of Balkan clary. It produces long spikes of lovely violet-purple. A grouping of several plants will provide you with an eye-catching display of minarets in your border, right through summer.
The flowers are held on purple-black stems, well above the compact mound of pleasantly aromatic, grey-green, textured, oval-to-pointed leaves. Bees and other pollinating insects will love this Salvia. Of course, being a perennial—and a very hardy one, once established—it will give you flowers every year; it dies back to below ground level each autumn, then fresh new growth reappears in spring.
Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' looks spectacular when planted with other plants with plum, pink or smoky purple leaves or flowers, as well as silver-foliaged plants. And it is considered so good as a garden plant, that the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has awarded it a coveted Award of Garden Merit.
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Plant profile
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Remove the packaging straight away, check the compost and water thoroughly if dry. Check the plant’s hardiness before placing it outdoors. Plant into a border or permanent container within a month, choosing the position recommended for the variety. Keep the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, firm gently and water well.
Soak the roots in water for three to six hours immediately before planting. Keep any crown, buds or emerging shoots above the water where possible.
Pot most bare roots into 15–20cm pots filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. Large or depth-sensitive roots, including peonies, are often best planted directly into borders.
Arrange the roots naturally without bending them. Cover the roots completely, positioning the crown and buds at the depth recommended for that particular perennial.
Keep pots in a sheltered outdoor position and water whenever the compost begins to dry. Grow on until roots hold the compost together when lifted from the pot.
Plant into a suitable border or permanent container once well rooted. Add a label and water regularly throughout the first growing season while the perennial establishes.
- Botanical name
- Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'
- Flower colour
- Purple
- Established height
- 30-50cm
- Established spread
- 20-30cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
-
Clump-forming
Upright - Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- Yes
- Plant size
- 1
- Plant spacing
- 9 plants per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- Yes
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - Rabbit resistant
- Yes
- RHS Award (AGM)
- Yes
- Scented
- Yes
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Wildlife gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
- Full sun
- Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 2-3 years
Perfect for pots
Pollinator-friendly
Fragrant
Thrives in full sun
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed peat-free
Low maintenance
Attracts wildlife
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Salvia 'Caradonna' reviews
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