Sage (Salvia Mystic Spires Blue) in the Salvias Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 7a -17.8 °C (0 °F) to -15 °C (5 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 10b
Plant Height:	24-48 inches
Plant Spread:	14-18 inches
Leaves:	Fragrant
Flowers:	Showy
Flower Color:	Blue Other: bluish calyx
Flower Time:	Late spring or early summer Summer Late summer or early fall Fall
Uses:	Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant:	Bees Birds Butterflies Hummingbirds
Resistances:	Deer Resistant Humidity tolerant
Propagation: Seeds:	Other info: Sterile hybrid. Produces no seed.
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous:	Patent/Plant Breeders' Rights: PP18,054
Awards and Recognitions:	Texas Superstar®
Parentage:	Irradiation-induced sport of: Indigo Spires
Child plants:	one child plant

Trade name information:

Trade Name: Mystic Spires Blue
Cultivar name: 'Balsalmisp'

Common names

Sage
Salvia

Also sold as:

Mystic Spires

'Balsalmisp' was a featured
Plant of the Day for November 25, 2015.

Photo Gallery

Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-10-01

Uploaded by LoriMT

Uploaded by treehugger

Location: My garden in Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Date: 10.04.22

Uploaded by NMoasis

Uploaded by Sheridragonfly

Location: Garden fish garden
Date: June 8 2020
Busy bee!

Uploaded by gardenfish

Location: My garden in Albuquerque, NM Zone 7b
Date: 06.28.22
Bud

Uploaded by NMoasis

Location: southeast alabama
Date: 2015-06-13
Mystic Spires

Uploaded by Sheridragonfly

Location: Hyde Hall, Essex, UK.
Date: 2022-09-03

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Location: Gardenfish garden
Date: May 02 2020
I’m hoping the bees will like it

Uploaded by gardenfish

Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-06-14

Uploaded by LoriMT

Location: My garden, Grapevine, TX
Date: May 2017

Uploaded by Altheabyanothername

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: San Antonio, TX
Date: 2019-10-16

Uploaded by christinereid54

Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-09-13

Uploaded by LoriMT

Uploaded by treehugger

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: San Antonio Botanical Garden, San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-04

Uploaded by sedumzz

Uploaded by RachaelHunter

Uploaded by RoseA32

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: southeast alabama
Date: 2015-06-13
Plant seems to be about 3 foot with blooms and 2 foot wide when f

Uploaded by Sheridragonfly

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: Jun 7, 2010 1:02 PM
At the end of our driveway among other containers

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: SunZone 6a
Date: 2014-01-22
This plant was moved from the container and has performed beautif

Uploaded by ge1836

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2017-08-03

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by jmorth

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-10-03

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-10-03
First year growing it and I love it! Beautiful! Surrounded by sev

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-21
Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' with Salvia 'Blue Hill' directly behi

Uploaded by Marilyn

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Sun Zone 6a
Date: 2012-10-07
This is an October look.

Uploaded by ge1836

Uploaded by robertduval14

Location: My zone 8a north Georgia garden
Date: 2024-08-09

Uploaded by LoriMT

Uploaded by vic

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Marilyn

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-21

Uploaded by Marilyn

Uploaded by Marilyn

Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Date: 2014-05-12

Uploaded by terrafirma

Uploaded by ge1836

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by jmorth

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Highland, Utah
Date: 2012-04-18
At Highland Gardens

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Uploaded by Paul2032

Location: Coastal San Diego County
Date: 2017-04-16

Uploaded by carlysuko

Uploaded by carlysuko

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by Danita (GA - Zone 7b) on Sep 30, 2011 4:17 AM concerning plant:

This is a shorter mutation of 'Indigo Spires.' Like 'Indigo Spires', it is sterile due to an odd number of chromosomes and won't produce seed. Because of this, it is very floriferous. It's a very pretty plant that is enjoyed by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

My Climate: USDA Zone 7b, AHS Heat Zone 7/8, Humid

Reply to this comment
Posted by Hortica (N. California - Zone 10b) on Apr 29, 2024 2:43 PM concerning plant:

Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue' is a dwarf form of Salvia 'Indigo Spires' (a hybrid between two large Mexican sages, Salvia longispicata and Salvia farinacea). Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue', comes out of the Ball FloraPlant breeding program and is an irradiation induced sport of 'Indigo Spires'. The cultivar was selected in August 2003 by Scott Trees at a test facility in Arroyo Grande, Calif. This cultivar is more compact because of shorter internodes, and also has smaller leaves than Salvia 'Indigo Spires'.
It was originally registered for Plant Breeders Rights in Commonwealth countries and in the US Patent office as Salvia 'Balsalmisp' and received US Patent PP18,054 on September 18, 2007.
I once attended a presentation by Scott Trees on the origin of this cultivar.

Reply to this comment
Posted by LoriMT (Dawsonville, GA - Zone 8a) on Jun 14, 2022 12:29 PM concerning plant:

Mystic Spires thrives in my zone 7b North Georgia Mountains garden. It has wintered over for 3 years in a row, with temps down to 12 degrees. It blooms continuously from June to October, with no deadheading. It mixes well with coleus for summer-long color.

Reply to this comment
Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Dec 28, 2011 2:02 AM concerning plant:

I've grown 'Mystic Spires Blue' (also known as, 'Playin' The Blues') both in containers and in the ground. It's an annual for me where I live, so I plant it every year.

As I look at one of the photos I've posted above and I think back to the previous growing seasons and photos I took of it that were in the ground and in mixed containers and it seems to me that 'Mystic Spires Blue' is happier planted in the ground with a little room to grow or in a container by itself that's big enough and doesn't have to compete for soil, space, water and nutrients with its container neighbors.

The plants I had in the ground looked great, but if I know I don't have a spot, then I know it will still look good planted in a container!

The photo I've posted above also is mulched with wood bark and chips that I've added to help keep the moisture in. I know I've planted it with those moisture crystals that are in most potting mixes and that helps during dry spells too.

'Mystic Spires Blue' is like its bigger sibling, Salvia 'Indigo Spires', but is a lot smaller, more compact, and better suited for smaller gardens. I've planted Salvia 'Indigo Spires' before and had it in the ground and it does take a lot of space during the growing season.

Reply to this comment
Posted by ge1836 (Pittsford NY - Zone 6a) on Oct 7, 2012 7:04 AM concerning plant:

It's the first year for this plant here. It is so beautiful.The deep indigo blue color just can't be believed. It really does bloom long into the season.

Reply to this comment

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Salvias Sage (Salvia Mystic Spires Blue)

Salvias

Sage (Salvia Mystic Spires Blue)