Clary Sage 'Oxford Blue' Seeds

Salvia viridis (often sold as Salvia horminum) is a Hardy Annual.

It is incredibly easy to grow and very cold tolerant. It forms upright, branching spikes of colour that look like lavender from a distance but are much faster to grow from seed.

The "Leaf" Flower: The true flowers are tiny white/pink blooms hidden inside the colourful bracts. Bees love finding them, but for us gardeners, the show is all about those purple-blue tops.

This is a perfect beginner's seed.

Germination:
Sow directly outdoors in Autumn (Sept) for bigger, earlier plants, or Spring (March-May). Scatter seeds onto raked soil and cover lightly. Germination takes 14-21 days.

Where to Sow:
It needs full sun and well-drained soil. It hates sitting in wet winter clay, so if your soil is heavy, add grit or sow in spring.

Care While Growing:
Pinch: When seedlings are 10cm tall, pinch out the top tip. This forces the plant to bush out and produce multiple flowering spikes instead of just one central stem.
Harvest: Cut stems when the bracts are fully coloured. For drying, hang them upside down in a dark, airy place.

The deep indigo of 'Oxford Blue' makes warm colours pop:

• 🍑 Cosmos 'Apricotta': The Sunset Mix. The soft peach and apricot tones of the Cosmos look incredible against the dark blue spikes of the Salvia. It’s a very trendy, modern colour combination.
• 🌼 Calendula 'Art Shades': The Vibrant Clash. If you prefer high energy, mix the blue Salvia with bright orange Calendula. They are opposites on the colour wheel, making each other shine brighter.

Sow outdoors in autumn or spring. Flowers June to October.