General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Shrub
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: 4 feet
Plant Spread: 3 feet
Leaves: Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Blue
Other: Cobalt blue with black calyxes
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Other: Deadheading flowers ensures more flowering throughout the season.
Underground structures: Rhizome
Tuber
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Goes Dormant
Child plants: 2 child plants

Image
Common names
  • Anise-Scented Sage
  • Brazilian Sage
  • Blue Anise Sage
  • Salvia Azul
  • Salvia
  • Guarani Sage
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Salvia coerulea
  • Synonym: Salvia guaranitica
Also sold as:
  • Black & Blue
  • Negro y Azul
  • Black n' Blue

'Black and Blue' was a featured
Plant of the Day for September 5, 2015.
Photo Gallery
Location: NJ
Date: 2011-07-20
Location: NJ
Date: 2012-08-03
had to post another shot.. just love this plant!!!
Location: Pacific Northwest
Date: 10/3/2004

Date: 2014-11-12

Date: 2011-09-11
#pollination
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2015-09-15
Lovely blue blossoms!
Location: My garden-round bed
Location: my garden zone 7b NC
Date: 2012-05-31
Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2018-08-31
gulf fritillary butterflies

Date: 2013-08-06
Location: My garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 2019-07-11
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Uploaded by kosk0025
Location: My garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 10-14-2016
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2014-11-05
Underground structures
Location: zone 10 Martin County, Fl.
Date: 2010-12-29
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Maine
Date: 2014-09-14
Location: Maine
Date: 2014-09-19
Location: My garden round butterfly bed
Location: my garden zone 7b NC
Date: 2012-05-31
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2013-05-22
Location: southeast alabama
Date: June 
Strong stems, upright salvia!

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2018-07-04
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2018-07-04
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2007-07-26

Date: 2023-11-22
Seeds maturing

Date: 2023-11-22

Date: 2011-10-02
Uploaded by Windigo
Uploaded by pinkiris
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2020-06-28
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2020-06-28
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Date: 2020-06-28
Location: My garden
Location: In my Mom's garden
Date: 2008-07-01
Location: My garden
Date: 2016-11-05
Location: Botanical Garden of the University of Münster
Date: 2017-09-19
Location: NJ
Date: Jun 6, 2011 7:10 PM
Location: The Park
Date: 2014-10-05
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-05-14
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2019-05-14
I'm amazed at how quickly this got established.
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2019-05-14
Location: Gulf-coast Texas
Date: 2014-12-14
Location: Maine
Date: 2017-09-28
Uploaded by indygardengal
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2008-08-30
specimen in pot
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2013-05-16
The blue blooms on this salvia are striking. It spreads by runner
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-03-07
As this salvia has naturalized, it has grown tubers
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2015-09-15
This plant is perennial here.  One of my favorites!
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2019-04-09
Location: Cherokee County Master Gardener demo garden Jacksonville, TX
Date: May 17, 2011
Location: Home garden-Augusta KS zone 6b
Date: 2024-07-26
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2007-07-26
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-03-25
First bloom of the year.
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2016-06-07
Uploaded by Sheridragonfly
Location: Winter Springs, FL zone 9b
Date: 2018-04-08
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2019-04-29
Location: Columbus, OH
Date: 2003
Location: In my garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: September 14, 2006
'Black and Blue' Salvia in an Oklahoma City, OK garden [zone 7A]
Location: In my garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: May 30, 2016
'Black and Blue' Salvia in an Oklahoma City, OK garden [zone 7A]
Location: Youngsville, LA
Date: 2015-04-21
By tabbycat
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Date: 2014-08-02
specimen at side of garage
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-06-06
Location: Glendale, Arizona
Date: 2016-04-12
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2015-11-12
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-23

Date: 2014-01-23
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.
Location: Garden fish garden
Date: July 2019
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2015

Date: 2018-05-24
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: June
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2014-05-11
In this photo, you can see why it is named "Black and Blue"! A hu
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-03-25
Rescued from the Lowe's clearance rack for a whole dollar.
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2015-03-25
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: Maryland
Date: August 19, 2014
Location: My garden
Location: In my garden
Uploaded by indygardengal
Location: In a friends garden in Oklahoma City, OK
Date: September 1, 2018
'Black and Blue' Salvia in an Oklahoma City, OK garden [zone 7A]
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 10-14-2016
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-06-01
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-13
Location: My garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 2017-07-04
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Location: My garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-09-2017
Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'
Location: west gazebo
Date: May 2017
Beautiful blue!
Location: Mountain City, Texas
Date: 2014-06-14
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2017-05-05
Blooming extremely early!
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-23
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2005-08-20
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2016-06-02
Uploaded by pinkiris

With hummingbird moth.
Location: Wilmington, Delaware USA
Location: The Park
Date: 2014-10-05

Photo Courtesy of Lazy S'S Farm Nursery.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Gardnerville, Nevada
Date: 2017-09-16
Grown from seed
Location: Gardnerville, Nevada
Date: 2017-09-29
Location: Orangeburg, SC
Date: 2013-06-17
Hummingbird favorite
Location: my garden zone 7b NC
Date: 2012-05-31
Location: Gulf-coast Texas
Date: 2014-12-14
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-10-11
Location: Grantville, Georgia
Location: my garden zone 7b NC
Date: 2012-05-20
Location: Concord, NC zone 7
Date: 2016-06-07
Location: My garden
Date: 2018-06-16
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-05-16
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: my garden zone 7b NC, USA
Date: 2013-09-20
Location: Maine
Date: 2014-09-20
Location: central Illinois
Date: 5-14-14
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2018-07-04
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-05-10
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-07-02
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-05-14
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-05-21
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-05-14
Location: zone 8 Lake City, Fl.
Date: 2014-05-24
Location: my front garden 
Date: 2015-05-12
Location: my garden 
Date: 2014-09-02
Location: my garden 
Date: 2014-09-02
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-07-18
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-10-13
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-07-23
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2007-07-23
Location: FPF Home, Warren County, Kentucky
Date: 2022-06-19
  • Uploaded by FPF
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2007-06-29
Photo taken at night. The flash washed out the deep blue color of
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-11-01
Location: FPF Home, Warren County, Kentucky
Date: 2022-06-20
  • Uploaded by FPF
Location: Elizabethan Gardens, Dare County, North Carolina | June, 2022
Date: 2022-06-12
Location: My garden in Kalama, Wa. Zone 8
Date: 2009-10-15
  • Uploaded by Joy
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by mom2goldens (Carmel, IN - Zone 5b) on Sep 19, 2014 6:27 PM concerning plant:
    I plant this every year because it is a hummingbird magnet. They prefer it over the nectar in the feeder. It's such a gorgeous plant. In our zone it does slightly better in a little light shade: The plants seem to grow larger and flower more heavily. It keeps producing flowers until frost, which is a great advantage in the late season garden.
  • Posted by jathton (Oklahoma City, OK - Zone 7a) on Feb 8, 2020 3:39 AM concerning plant:
    Several on-line plant libraries list 'Black & Blue' Salvia as hardy in zones 8-10. This beautiful perennial has, however, been a highly successful perennial in Oklahoma City [zone 7A] for a number of years.
    One example: The original one in my garden was purchased 6 years ago as a one gallon plant. Last summer the clump of foliage was 3.5 feet in diameter and the height of the flowering stems was 4.5 feet.
    In zone 7 success is best achieved when the plant is heavily mulched and watered during dry periods in the winter.
    This salvia prefers well-drained soils. It will tend to be floppy if given too much shade or overly rich soil. Division is best done in the spring.
    The height of the plant can be controlled by removing the top third of each stem when they are about 15 inches tall. This will delay flowering somewhat... but the plant blooms throughout the growing season [with deadheading] so this should not be a huge problem.
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on May 12, 2019 11:45 AM concerning plant:
    Each May I go to one of two conventional, traditional nurseries (garden centers) that sell many good annual flowers that are not sold at any of the big box stores with a garden section as Home Depot, Lowes, K-Mart, etc. and I buy several Black & Blue Sages in pots. I plant them in very big pots on the back deck or close to it, not only for its beauty, but for the female Ruby-throated Hummingbird that comes by during the summer. She really loves the tubular, dark blue-purple flowers of this annual. (She also loves the tubular, orange flowers of the Cigar-Plant Cuphea that I also plant nearby. She does not like the tubular, red flowers of the new dwarf cultivars of the Scarlet Sage. Hummingbirds used to adore the old, large cultivars of Salvia splendens that grew about 2 to 3 feet high.)
  • Posted by tabbycat (Youngsville, LA - Zone 9b) on Jun 17, 2018 4:49 PM concerning plant:
    Mine has its 1st flowers of 2018 now, on June 15th. They are a beautiful blue rarely seen in the plant world! I grow it in a large pot in morning sun, but with filtered afternoon light. They fainted every afternoon in full sun no matter how much water they got. They will bloom most of the summer on new growth. I bring them back and forth in my garage in winter when temps drop below 38*, but put them back out on mild days because our zone 9 winters aren't too bad. They are hardy with no noticeable diseases. Only an occasional snail nibbles on the leaves until I find and destroy it.
  • Posted by gardenfish (Arkansas - Zone 7b) on Aug 10, 2019 10:04 AM concerning plant:
    When I planted this salvia I wasn't planting it for the hummingbirds; I just liked the color. i have found out this summer that they are gaga over this salvia, they can't get enough of it! I always thought hummingbirds prefer red; at least that is what a lot of books say. I guess hummingbirds don't read the books! This salvia is pretty tough, although I have noticed it seems to need a little more water than other salvias. (I have 9 varieties). If it is deadheaded, it blooms well through the fall.
  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 26, 2014 5:38 AM concerning plant:
    Anise-scented Sage (Salvia coerulea 'Black and Blue') is native to South America and is listed as variously hardy in different sources to zone 7a, 7b, or 8a. It is marginally hardy in my zone 7a garden, surviving mild winters but not harsher winters. Its striking deep blue blossoms are a standout in any garden, and the hummers and bees enjoy it. Mine does well in part sun, with either too much or too little sun affecting its ability to bloom.
  • Posted by sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on Dec 14, 2018 4:06 AM concerning plant:
    I've grown this Salvia for about five years now. It is very happy in my warmest garden which may be zone 8 due to southern exposure and the house wall behind. There it blooms well in full sun and spreads every year. It grows roots along just below the surface and odd, woody tubers. It also lived in average sites here which should be about zone 7, and in some shade, but may not spread or persist long term. I tried storing some tubers dry in the basement but they did not regrow come spring. Tubers do no look like they can be cut apart like potatoes to grow, but rather seem to need to keep the stem they have. Watch bumblebees visit and bite the base of the flower to steal nectar.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Apr 17, 2013 10:00 PM concerning plant:
    Salvia 'Black and Blue' is a wonderful plant that attracts the hummers! They love the flowers!

    Beautiful color of blue!
  • Posted by hellybor (NJ - Zone 6b) on Jul 23, 2024 1:12 PM concerning plant:
    Just discovered that a plant I was thinking might be a weed is this! I'm in Zone 6 and can't remember when I planted it or whether it was from a seed or a plant I didn't expect to make it through the winter. I am going to try to save some seeds. It looks pretty ragged due to something eating it, but the flowers are amazing. It's about 30" tall. Next time I will prune it early. Taking some cuttings and thinking about overwintering it indoors.
  • Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 30, 2011 3:50 PM concerning plant:
    Not perennial here in my garden on the north shore Long Island, New York in zone 6/7. It is such a stunning flower with the contrast in the blue flowers that I buy it new and plant it each spring. Very attractive to hummingbirds.
  • Posted by Ispahan (Chicago - Zone 6a) on Jul 4, 2012 4:42 PM concerning plant:
    One of my favorite salvias for both general garden beauty and attracting hummingbirds. Very eye-catching and will sometimes overwinter in the Chicago area. A favorite!
Plant Events from our members
chelle On November 5, 2014 Winterized
(4) Clipped, dried, bagged and stored.
fstins1 On April 22, 2015 Obtained plant
piksihk On May 8, 2022 Bloomed
piksihk On September 27, 2021 Transplanted
To HW- round butterfly bed-
piksihk On June 20, 2021 Bloomed
WG plant has multiplied 👍🏻
piksihk On June 16, 2018 Bloomed
WG frt bed
piksihk On July 31, 2017 Bloomed
Two plants few blooms
lovesblooms On July 23, 2015 Bloomed
MunchkinsMom On March 1, 2017 Plant emerged
Date approximate, leafing out
MunchkinsMom On October 12, 2016 Deadheaded
MunchkinsMom On September 1, 2016 Bloomed
Beautiful color, but I think I like 'Amistad' better.
MunchkinsMom On March 29, 2016 Transplanted
Front Semi-Circle, from 2 1/2" pot, leafing out, about 2 1/2" tall
MunchkinsMom On October 30, 2015 Obtained plant
Dogwooderitternet eBay Cut back - Dormant
variegatagal On April 15, 2021 Miscellaneous Event
Suspect this was planted next to Arrow Leaf sage but no sign of it now
variegatagal On March 8, 2021 Maintenance performed
variegatagal On May 6, 2020 Bloomed
variegatagal On May 19, 2018 Transplanted
variegatagal On May 2, 2018 Obtained plant
Perennial Path Plant Farm
1035 S Trinity Rd, Denton, TX 76208
RoseA32 On May 3, 2020 Obtained plant
Jen
MrsBinWY On May 27, 2021 Transplanted
3 into large pot
MrsBinWY On March 25, 2021 Seeds germinated
4 (2 more with radical emerging that I'll try to pot tomorrow); 3 more on 3-27-2021; last 2 on 4-16 (should have checked these a couple days sooner)
MrsBinWY On March 20, 2021 Seeds sown
9 seeds from mmolyson's 2020G on coffee filter @ room temp
paleohunter On April 27, 2024 Transplanted
paleohunter On March 4, 2023 Obtained plant
paleohunter On July 4, 2022 Transplanted
aspenhill On May 15, 2021 Obtained plant
NGA Sally (SallyG) - qty 1
Mielikki On July 28, 2021 Obtained plant
SuperHappyCamper On May 31, 2024 Obtained plant
Purchased from Busy B Nursery as a replacement.
SuperHappyCamper From April 15, 2023 to May 30, 2024 Obtained plant
Purchased from Drew at spring plant sale located at Gardens of Kennesaw Mtn.
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Anise-scented Sage (Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue') with hummingbird by CDsSister Oct 4, 2015 2:41 AM 16
Black and Blue Salvia by SheilaC Jun 5, 2014 5:55 PM 3
Black and Blue Salvia/Blue Anise Salvia by Sheridragonfly Nov 12, 2014 12:29 PM 0
Salvia 'Black and Blue' Seeds by HoosierHarvester Nov 12, 2015 7:38 PM 5

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