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6/5/03 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Perennial Salvia is a Border Beauty By Linda Naeve There are a few garden perennials that are versatile, beautiful and reliable. This week's Reiman's Pick - 'May Night' salvia - probably tops that list. It is a perfect selection for the middle of a perennial border or as a single accent plant. 'May Night' salvia is a perennial salvia that goes by more than one common name, Latin name and cultivar name. The common names of salvia, blue sage or blue salvia easily confuse it with its annual cousins. Latin names are used to eliminate the confusion caused by common names. However, that is not the case with this salvia. It is a hybrid between two species in the Salvia genus, S. pratensis and S. nemerosa. Some sources list it as Salvia x sylvestris. It is also acceptable to refer to it as Salvia x superba. It even has two cultivar names - 'May Night' is the English translation of the actual German name, 'Mainacht'. Like its name implies, 'May Night' brightens up perennial gardens in May and June, especially when it receives ample spring rains and cool nights. It grows approximately two feet tall and 18 inches wide with each plant producing several spikes of deep, blue-violet flowers over aromatic blue-gray leaves. 'May Night' has a very rigid, upright form. It doesn't have the bad habit of flopping over like other perennial salvias. It has an attractive, tidy form when planted alone as a single specimen plant. The long-lasting spikes make a great vertical accent in the middle or front of a perennial border. It creates a spectacular display when planted in clumps or drifts. 'May Night' is hardy from USDA Zones 5 to 9, however, will grow in zone 4 if planted in a protected location or protected with a mulch covering for winter. It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established in the garden, 'May Night' is quite drought-tolerant. After the flowers fade, cut the stems back about two inches below the spikes and the plant will re bloom a second time later in the season. The Perennial Plant Association recognized 'May Night' salvia as its "1997 Perennial Plant of the Year" because it is suitable for a wide range of climates and is easy to maintain in the garden. Due to this recognition, 'May Night' should be readily available at garden centers that sell perennial garden flowers or through mail or Internet sources. There are a few other recent perennial salvia cultivars that also merit some attention. 'Purple rain' salvia, S. verticillata, has become popular in recent years. It produces large, coarse, arrow-shaped leaves. The 2-foot tall plant sends up many branched inflorescences of purple flowers. Its form is looser and less tidy than 'May Night'. 'May Night' can be seen in full bloom in the Town and Country Garden at Reiman Gardens. It will also be featured in the renovated perennial gardens at Reiman Gardens. If you are taking on the task of renovating your garden this year, planting a new perennial border garden or need to fill in the gaps, be sure to include 'May Night' salvia in your plans. To learn more about the Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University visit us on the Web at: http://www.reimangardens.iastate.edu/. -30-
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