Salvia, Black & Bloom - Hummingbird Hotline

Salvia 'Black & Bloom' is the brooding heartthrob of the salvia family—an upgraded version of the classic 'Black & Blue' that arrives earlier, blooms bigger, and struts darker stems like it's ready for its close-up. But let's talk about those show-stopping flowers: towering spikes rise dramatically above lush green foliage, each one loaded with large, tubular blooms in the deepest cobalt blue imaginable, emerging from near-black calyxes that add a gothic velvet edge. The contrast is pure drama—electric sapphire against inky midnight, drawing the eye and holding it hostage all season long. Hummingbirds go absolutely wild, diving in like tiny fighter pilots for the nectar-rich throats, while bees and butterflies join the frenzy, turning your garden into a buzzing pollinator party.

This vigorous upright grower thrives in full sun (partial shade tolerated but expect a slightly lazier bloom show), reaching 3-4 feet tall and wide—perfect for mid-border impact, containers, or cutting gardens. Flowers explode from late spring straight through fall frost, laughing off heat, humidity, and drought once established (deer tend to steer clear, too). In zone 6a Indiana, this tender perennial shines as a bold annual: plant after last frost and watch it steal the show without much fuss. Tough, glamorous, and utterly addictive — who knew blue could be this dangerously alluring?