I have two blue ensign salvias about 5 foot apart
they are leggy and about 4 foot tall...
this was their first year
and the blooms were plentiful all summer long
and just gorgeous
in morning sun but afternoon shade...

For photography reasons and beauty I have bought two blue chip
butterfly dwarf bushes today and I am thinking of placing one in front of each
blue ensign salvia..

because the salvias are leggy and 4 foot tall
and just appear sparse..


do you think that since the salvia and the butterfly bush are both about the same height

that it would take away from the blue ensign salvia blooming next year
if I place one blue chip butterfly bush to bloom in front of it..
to make the area thicker and more blooming and foliage for
my photographing and the visual effect for the garden?


There is afternoon shade ....but good morning sun in that area

the blue ensign salvias are directly in front of the 3 black wrought iron t rellis you see in the August picture of Sheris healing flower garden.

I have clematis vines on those trellis..

The iris can be moved to behind the trellis if I put the dwarf butterfly bushes
in front of the blue ensign salvias..

your thoughts on what to put in front of the blue salvias to make it more dense
and more attractive for photographs and hummingbirds or butterflys
if not the dwarf blue chip butterfly bushes..

thanks sheri/sheridragonfly

I would pinch the Salvia early on during the growing season to encourage more bushy growth. Could try that next year?

Don't know about the butterfly bushes being so close to the Salvia with the same/similar color bloom.
Although, in the photo the butterfly bush does appear a bit more purple/blue, so maybe okay?
If the blooms were a different color it might make for a better photo op? I kind of like yellow or white against the blue Salvia (my personal preference).

That's all I have at the moment.

Hm, it also sort of depends upon how tall the butterfly bushes get. Does it say on the tag? Although you could prune them to keep them low. You don't want them crowding or shading out your salvia.

The salvia is most likely a bit leggy because of the afternoon shade. They do like lots of sun, although I totally agree that you should also try pinching them to keep them bushy early in the season.

To fill in next to the salvia, maybe one of the purple Agastaches would work also, and not be quite so, ahh shall we say 'robust'. They also have a nice contrast of foliage texture, smell great and are butterfly and hummingbird magnets.

Elaine
thank you for your thoughts!
Sheri/sheridragonfly

I agree with greene and dyzzy about pinching back the Salvia early in the season to promote a more bushy growth. I think the Butterfly Bush (Buddleja Lo & Behold® Blue Chip) would be really pretty planted in front of the Salvia. I like garden beds with a contrast of colors but I also like garden beds with same color blooms or maybe just a slight difference in hue all planted together too.

Pretty space by the way!

Lin,
well I do from the photographer point of view think that something pink
flowering in front of the cobalt blue blooming b lue ensign salvias would make
a better contrast..however due to expense and lack of space
I did put the two blue chip butterfly bushes one in front of each salvia
the flower b ed looks better than this picture showing the new arrangement
this weekend..

It costs so much money to maintain and buy for a flower bed
and labor unless one does it themselves..

the joy it brings, the excitement of new bloom , the butterflys the hummingbirds and so many dragonflys and insects...and the feeling of success, have been worth it to me

I moved the iris from the front of the bed to the back
and this made the bed fuller and more lush..
when it recovers from the transplanting...
and next spring ought to be just awesome
when the plants fill out and are lush again.

thanks for the compliment and for sharing along with the others who replied also.
Sheri/sheridragonfly