Argentina Skies Blue Anise Sage

Argentina Skies Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Argentina Skies')

Argentina Skies Blue Anise Sage brings a cool, sky-blue bloom color that instantly softens hot summer palettes and keeps borders looking fresh into fall. Tall, leafy stems build quick volume, so it is easy to create a lush backdrop without waiting years for a planting to mature. The nectar-rich flowers are a reliable hummingbird magnet, and the aromatic foliage adds another layer of garden interest up close. In colder regions it is often grown as a seasonal showpiece or overwintered in a container, while mild climates can enjoy it as a tender perennial.

Distinctive Features

This selection is prized for its light, clear blue tubular flowers carried in big clusters, often with a greener calyx tone than many darker-flowered types. Bloom typically runs from summer into fall, with repeat flushes encouraged by trimming after flowering. The plant develops a vigorous, upright to arching habit and can slowly spread by runners or tubers in favorable conditions, building a fuller patch over time. Mature size is commonly about 3 to 5 feet tall and about 2 to 4 feet wide, so it performs best where it has room to branch.

Growing Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade works well, with best flowering in full sun and some afternoon shade helpful in hotter sites.
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil that holds some moisture is ideal, and avoid consistently soggy ground.
• Water: Water regularly during establishment, then provide moderate moisture, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings.
• USDA Zones: Zones 7 to 10 as a tender perennial, and commonly grown as an annual or overwintered in colder zones.
• Mature Size: About 3 to 5 feet tall and about 2 to 4 feet wide.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point: Use one bold clump as a late-season focal point where the sky-blue blooms can carry a key view through fall.
• Back of Borders: Plant behind mid-height perennials to add height, softness, and a long-blooming finish.
• Hummingbird Gardens: Place near patios and paths to enjoy frequent hummingbird visits at close range.
• Seasonal Screening: Use in repeated groups to create a soft, leafy screen that stays colorful through the season.
• Large Containers: Grow in oversized pots to control size and make overwintering easier in colder climates.

Low Maintenance Care

• Deadheading: Trim spent flower spikes to encourage repeat bloom and keep plants looking tidy.
• Pruning: Cut back lightly after heavy bloom flushes to promote branching and more flowering stems.
• Watering: Deep water during extended heat and drought to prevent stress and support continued bloom.
• Staking: Provide discreet support in windy sites if tall stems begin to lean.
• Overwintering: In colder zones, grow in a container and bring it into a cool, bright space before hard frost.

Why Choose Argentina Skies Blue Anise Sage?

• Rare Sky-Blue Color: Light blue flowers add a cool, calming tone that stands out among typical summer reds and yellows.
• Hummingbird Magnet: Nectar-rich blooms reliably draw hummingbirds and other pollinators.
• Long Bloom Window: Flowers from summer into fall, especially with simple trimming.
• Lush, Fast Fill: Vigorous growth quickly builds a full backdrop and helps borders look established.
• Aromatic Foliage: Fragrant leaves add sensory value and help the plant feel lively up close.

Argentina Skies Blue Anise Sage is a strong choice when you want tall, airy structure paired with a cooler bloom color that stays interesting late in the season. Give it sun, good drainage, and consistent moisture, then trim after flowering to keep it cycling. Used as a statement clump or repeated along a border, it delivers a confident, pollinator-friendly finish.