Cathedral® Purple - Salvia Farinacea

Purple is a compact Salvia farinacea selection in Green Fuse Botanicals’ Cathedral® series. Its upright flower spikes bring dark violet-blue color to sunny beds and containers, with the series bred for early flowering and a uniform garden habit. ## Growth and flowering Plants generally grow about 12–18 inches tall and 12–16 inches wide. The species produces aromatic, coarsely serrated green foliage and flowers intermittently from spring until frost. This selection’s flowers are dark violet-blue; other Cathedral colors are separate selections. It is sold as an annual bedding plant, while Salvia farinacea is a tender perennial listed hardy in USDA zones 8–10. ## Garden placement Give it full sun and well-drained soil that stays reasonably moist; established plants tolerate some dry conditions and dry clay. Use it in borders, containers, or cutting gardens. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visit the flowers, and the species is seldom damaged by deer. Salvia farinacea forms rounded clumps and is described as low maintenance. ## Maintenance Water regularly while plants establish, then adjust irrigation to rainfall and local heat. Trim stems after a long flowering period if the plant becomes leggy; this encourages denser foliage. Sources: [Green Fuse exact selection](https://green-fuse.com/new/salvia-cathedral/green-fuse-salvia-cathedral-purple-1/) and [NC State Extension species profile](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/salvia-farinacea/).