(Salvia VIBE® 'Ignition Purple') Purple once was a color reserved
for royalty. Salvia VIBE® 'Ignition Purple' has deep royal purple
flowers that are rare in a Jame Sage hybrid. They bloom spring to
fall for your enjoyment.
This petite Jame Sage is cold hardy to USDA Zone 7. Use it as edging along
a sunny walkway or in a mixed container planting. VIBE® Ignition
Purple tends to spread and forms a lovely groundcover. VIBE® Ignition
Purple is part of our series of Salvia x Jamensis hybrids called
the Elk Rainbow Sages.™ This plant was originally released as Elk Phoenician
Purple.
Although heat tolerant and a sun lover, VIBE® Ignition Purple thrives
with a bit of partial shade during severe heat. It is also drought-tolerant
yet appreciates average watering based on local conditions. Don't forget
to give it well-drained soil.
Native to Mexico and the American Southwest, Jame Sages occur in areas
where the closely related species of Autumn Sage ( Salvia greggii)
and Mountain Sage (Salvia microphylla) meet, such as near the
Village of Jame in Mexico's Sierra Madre mountains or in the test gardens
of our Northern California farm. This parentage may include other species
of sages as well, so these hybrids come in a broad range of sizes.
The foliage of Jame Sages can favor any of their parent plants. VIBE® Ignition
Purple has the glossy, veined leaves of a Mountain Sage. Its burgundy calyxes
add to the plant's dramatic look.
This is an ideal plant for a native garden. Its size and regal color make
it a good choice for an outdoor fairy garden. Wherever you plant it, you
can expect honeybees and hummingbirds.
VIBE is a registered trademark of Flowers by the Sea.
Visit the VIBE® Salvias website.
A Rainbow of Quality
At Flowers by the Sea, we regularly develop new cultivars such as our
hybrid series of Elk Rainbow Sages™, which are varieties of Jame Sage Hybrids
(Salvia x jamensis) in a broad array of solids and bicolors ranging
from pastels to brights. Attractive to hummingbirds and honeybees, they
are lovely yet tough crosses that include Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
and Mountain Sage (Salvia microphylla). The word Elk in
the scientific and common names of the Elk Rainbow choices indicates that
you are getting a sturdy, colorful, reliable repeat performer.
Here are some guidelines for success with this plant in your garden.
Click on an individual icon for more detailed information.
Exposure
Full Sun
This plant needs or tolerates more than six hours of intense sunlight daily. Many Salvias only thrive in wide-open locations where they receive long hours of full sun. However, full-sun species sometimes tolerate a bit of partial shade. Or a Salvia that loves partial shade may be amenable to spending part of its time in full sun.
In general, this sun/shade adaptability shows up in Salvias that do best in cooler climates when grown in full sun and thrive in hot climates when partial shade is available. So full-sun Salvias sometimes are also categorized as partial-shade plants and vice versa.
Full sun
Heat Tolerant
This plant can handle extreme heat.
Full-sun Salvias that don’t like any shade are among the most heat tolerant. Heat-loving Salvias also are often drought tolerant. Moisture-conserving features, such as fuzzy leaves, help them stay perky at high temperatures.
Heat-tolerant Salvias are fine choices for western and southern exposures.
Heat tolerant
Partial Shade
This plant grows well in partial shade, such as the kind on the edge of woodlands or under deciduous trees with breaks in the foliage through which dappled sunlight penetrates. Many Salvias thrive in partial shade, including ones that spend part of their day in full sunlight. Some species need partial shade to overcome severe heat and dry soil.
Partial shade
Garden Uses
Containers
This plant grows well in an outdoor container, such as on a patio.
Some containerized Salvias leaf out and flower year after year following a period of dormancy. Annuals in containers may die back and appear to grow again when they reseed.
During extreme heat, check the soil in container plantings once or twice daily to be sure it doesn't completely dry out. Feel its surface for coolness, then gently poke a finger into the soil to check for dryness.
Container plant
Growing Habit
Zone(s) 7 - 9
Plant hardiness Zones defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture tell you the minimum temperatures a plant can withstand in your garden. The USDA divides the nation into winter climate areas from coldest (Zone 1) to warmest (Zone 11).
However, it is sometimes possible to grow a Zone 6 Salvia as a perennial in Zone 5 if you provide preferential care, such as winter mulching and a location sheltered from harsh winds. In contrast, a Zone 9 Salvia may act like a perennial in Zone 10 if given a bit of shade or extra water.
7 - 9
24 inches tall
To create a harmonious landscape plan, it is important to consider the heights of individual plants.
Height also affects function. Short Salvias often make excellent ground covers that conserve soil moisture and discourage weeds while also brightening your yard. Medium-height Salvias, such as ones 36 inches tall, often are ideal border plants. A tall Salvia planted singly can highlight a landscape; multiple plantings can form an attractive screen.
24 inches tall
24 inches wide
By considering the width of a plant, you can determine how many to place in a row or what other plants to grow with it.
For example, a narrow, moderate-height Salvia may look good interplanted with bushier species, kind of like Mutt and Jeff.
In contrast, wide-spreading Salvias are economical for hiding lengths of wall and fence or for creating hedge-like divisions in a yard.
24 inches wide
Ground Cover
Try this plant to control weeds, limit erosion, conserve soil moisture and add color to your landscape.
From short perennials that form dense mats spread by underground stoloniferous roots to thickets of medium-size shrubs, many Salvias are efficient ground covers.
Ground cover
Perennial
Plant this herbaceous species in the USDA Zones where it grows as a perennial, returning year after year.
After dying back to the ground at frost, herbaceous perennials emerge in the Spring with soft, new growth. A Salvia that is perennial in one region, may be an annual in another depending on local conditions, such as winter temperatures.
If you live in USDA Zone 5, for example, Salvias in our catalog cited as growing well in Zone 5 or lower will be perennial. Those cited as doing well in Zones 6 or higher may do well in Zone 5, but generally will act like annuals coming back from seed instead of the parent plant’s roots.
Perennial
Water Needs
Average
This plant needs regular watering based on what is appropriate to your local conditions.
In some extremely hot, arid climates, this may mean daily watering in Summer. Although many drought-resistant Salvias survive on little to no watering due to local rainfall and deep roots meeting their moisture needs, others need regular doses. The size and frequency of the dose depends on your climate.
Average water
Drought
In the right locale, this plant survives and thrives despite minimal summer water.
Drought resistance is an important characteristic of xeriscapic – dry landscape – plants, a category that includes a multitude of Salvias. Many low-water Salvias are native to parts of the world with little rainfall all year or regions where summers are dry and winters are wet.
Nevertheless, there are also drought-resistant Salvias for places such as Florida where winters are dry and summers are wet.
Drought resistant
Blooming Season
Fall
This plant reaches peak bloom in Fall or flowers for much of the season.
It may begin flowering much earlier in the year. Bloom time for some Salvias lasts from Spring till first frost. Others begin flowering in Summer and continue into Fall. There are also Salvias that don’t bloom until late Fall and continue into Winter if grown in mild-Winter areas.
There is a great deal of overlap in blooming seasons for Salvias.
Fall blooming
Spring
This plant reaches peak bloom during Spring or flowers for much of the season.
However, it may begin flowering sooner. Some Spring-blooming Salvias begin flowering in Winter; others start in Spring, keep producing color through summer and may continue on into autumn and first frost. Still others flower only in Spring.
There is a great deal of overlap in blooming seasons for Salvias.
Spring blooming
Summer
This plant reaches peak bloom in Summer or flowers for much of the season.
Lots of Summer bloomers start flowering in Spring; others begin in Summer and keep up the show of color until frost.
There is a great deal of overlap in blooming seasons for Salvias.
Summer blooming
Wildlife
Honeybees
Honeybees love this plant’s nectar. As a honeybee burrows down into a Salvia’s nectar-rich flowers to reach dinner, it accidentally gathers pollen and drops it on the stigma of that blossom or of ones on other nearby Salvias. Fertilization results in seed production.
By growing honeybee favorites, you attract these helpful pollinators to all your flowering plants and increase productivity
Honeybees
Deer
Unless local forage is in short supply, most deer likely will avoid this plant.
It appears that deer dislike Salvias, in general, due to their volatile oils that make the plants so fragrant and savory in cooking. However, the only completely deer-proof plants are the ones grown beyond reach.
Deer resistant
Hummingbirds
Based on our experience and reports from customers, hummingbirds (Trochilidae spp.) love this plant.
Hummingbirds exist only in the Americas where their 300-plus species are particularly fond of the nectar in brightly colored Salvias from the Western Hemisphere. However, if favorites aren’t available, they dine on the nectar of most Salvias.
Hummingbirds repay thoughtful plantings by helping to pollinate your garden
Hummingbirds
Salvias and their companion plants pop with color. Sweep your eyes from top to the bottom here for an impression of this plant's color combinations. The first row displays blossoms from primary to less dominant shades and includes any contrasting throat color. The second tier is the main hue of leaf-like bracts or calyxes supporting the flowers. Foliage (one or two colors) leafs out in the bottom row.
Primary color - Vivid Reddish Purple
RHS# 78A
Throat color - Very Light Purple - RHS# 76B
Secondary color - Vivid Violet
RHS# 89A
Bract color - Dark Purple
RHS# 79A
Leaf color - Strong Yellowish Green
RHS# 144A
Learn more about how we analyze plant colors
About our Color Display
We based our analysis of this plant’s floral and foliar color on the internationally standardized color system published by the U.K.’s Royal Horticultural Society. Called the RHS Large Colour Charts, this publication is a boxed set of color swatches arranged in fans and containing all the colors that RHS has identified in horticulture. RHS gives each color a common name and code number.
Each swatch has a small hole punched into it. We place the swatch over a flower petal and compare the blossom’s color to that of the card. When using RHS colors to compare plants that you want to combine in a flowerbed, in bouquets or in some other manner, RHS says to view them indoors in north light. If you are matching our digital swatches to flowers already in your garden, pluck two or three fully open blossoms of each plant that requires analysis.
You may find that the plant you receive from FBTS varies somewhat in color from what appears in our color analysis or our photograph due to a number of factors, including:
- Variations in photographic colors based on lighting level at different times of day
- Differences in the resolution of digital screens
- Seasonal changes in plant color due to changes in temperature and plant cycle and
- pH or soil chemistry that varies from one locale to another and causes color shifts.
Finally, RHS notes that you shouldn’t attempt color matching when your eyes are fatigued.
See other plants with similar colors
See other plants with colors in a split complementary relationship
See other plants with colors in a triadic relationship
Getting Started: Salvias for Zone 8
Posted: Thursday, May 14, 2015
Synopsis: Rainfall often is heavy in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8. It swings in a deep, broad arc from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast and back up the East Coast to the northeast edge of Virginia. What all its diverse areas have in common climatically is an average low winter temperature of 10 degrees F. Flowers by the Sea Online Nursery discusses growing conditions and how to select Salvias for your part of Zone 8 whether wet or dry.
Read the Article
Getting Started: Salvias for the Rocky Mountain West
Posted: Thursday, February 23, 2017
Synopsis: High altitude, distance from large bodies of water and powerful chinook winds make the Rocky Mountain West a dry gardening environment even in years of higher than average rain and snow. The region's steep mountains have a major impact on where and how precipitation falls. Instead of a single mountain chain, the Rocky Mountains are made up of 100 separate ranges. Similarly, the Salvia genus contains a broad range of sages, many of which thrive in the climactic extremes of the Mountain West.
Read the Article
Reviews
Marilyn from KY (zone 6a) on May 30, 2014 10:38 PM
I purchased this beauty this Spring from FBTS and it's been blooming its head off since it arrived!
I purchased this beauty this Spring from FBTS and it's been blooming its head off since it arrived!
I planted it into a container, cut all buds and flowers off (so it would put all its energy getting rooted in) and in no time it was back in bloom!
Beautiful purple flowers!
As Kermit states on his site, "It is similar to Salvia 'Mesa Purple', but is stronger and has better color." It's true! I grew Mesa Purple for a few years in a container and 'Elk Phoenician Purple' surpasses it by a milestone and is a winner! I got rid of 'Mesa Purple' and plan to only grow 'Elk Phoenician Purple'.
Very happy to be growing this one!
Was this review helpful to you?
3 |
0