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Caradonna Meadow Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

$5.99
$5.99 $7.99
per Plant - 3" Pot
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ZONES  4-8 | Good to grow! Zone
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'Caradonna' is a striking bi-color sage with deep, purple-black stems that highlight its vivid blue flower spikes. Attracts beautiful hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden with blooms that last throughout the season. A true heat lover, its color will remain vibrant even in full sun. (Salvia nemorosa)

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Description

Caradonna adds drama to the Salvia group. Its stems are dark purple, appearing jet black in some light, and adding great contrast with the blue flowers. This plant is a head-turner.

Planting & Care

About Salvias: Salvias can be confusing. Everybody knows those fire-engine red spires we see in park plantings every summer. Well, they're the annuals. Were dealing here with perennials. And most perennial Salvias bloom blue or purple, and most are much larger plants than the little red annuals.

Growing with numerous dense flower spikes that come into full bloom in May or June, the cultivars of S. nemorosa (which is a combo of several European species that are winter hardy) have become the favored ones for perennial gardens. Some people call them Sage. Some just call them Salvias. But everyone who grows them loves them in the garden. Here are the best-known classic cultivars:

Sensation Rose is the rich red growing up to about two feet.
May Night is the very popular taller one with the signature deep purple Salvia color, to 3 feet.
Snow Hill is the rather short, but popular white, growing only to about 20 inches.

These famous Salvias , growing together or in single stands, are sure color every season in your perennial garden.

About warmer zones: Famous perennial guru Allan Armitage, who gardens in the south, warns that these Salvias may survive all the way to zone 9, but he says from Zone 8 south, they flop over terribly, making problems for the gardener, while further north they stand tall and straight. He heartily recommends them for gardeners  in colder zones.

Further Reading:

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As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Bloom Time

Early to late summer

Advantages

  • Bee Friendly
  • Attracts Butterflies
  • Attracts Hummingbirds
  • Attracts Birds
  • Mass Plantings
  • Easy To Grow
  • Cut Flowers
  • Dried Flowers
  • Fragrant
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant

Tolerates

  • Dry Sites
  • Salt

Awards

Award of Garden Merit.

Additional information

Mature Height

24-30" tall

Mature Spread

12-24" wide

Soil Type

  • Loamy Soil
  • Sandy Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Average
  • Dry

Planting Depth

The base of the stem(s) should be just at the soil surface after watering in

Planting Time

  • Fall

Flower Size

Up to 24" flowers

Plant Classification

Introduced Cultivar

Growing Zones

  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8

Neonicotinoid Free

Yes
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Overall rating: 4.5555553 / 5 from 9 reviews.

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Review highlights

Reviews

Gorgeous

"Love the height of the spikes and how dark they are. Like a punctuation mark in the garden. Plan to add more."

— Wannabe (5/5)

1st Year Slow Going

"This is the first year of planting so it is growing very slowly. I do see some blooms. Too early to tell how well it will do over the long haul."

— Gischi (3/5)

Nice quality plant

"Plant was small when received but grew quickly and has been moved up to larger pots twice. Even through a brutal heat wave it has done very well."

— Cynder (5/5)

beautiful plants and good service

"This was the first time I have ordered from your company. I have to say I was very impressed with the delivery. The plants were packaged very nicely and were so healthy. I am very HAPPY with the quality of the plants. I have ordered from other companies before, but never again. I have found my company. You will also be happy with this company. IMPRESSIVE"

— Pattycakes (5/5)

beautiful purple sage

"Very nice purple flowers - but I expected the plants to grow taller and more lush. Perhaps they will fill out more for next year in our front garden."

— CapeGardener (4/5)

A true workhorse in the garden

"An always attractive bloomer with purple flowers and contrasting dark stem. They mix well with flowers of other shades, shapes and textures."

— Gailforce (4/5)

I'd buy this again!

"A very lovely sage, keep it deadheaded and you'll have a long season of beautiful blooms"

— Bauxwood G. (5/5)

outstanding!

"Favorite salvia! Love the intense color and height."

— Kim (5/5)

A favorite !

"Caradonna is a wonderful variety! This will be it's 3rd season in my garden. The spikes are tall and just beautiful ! A definite must for all gardeners!!!"

— Joanne V. (5/5)

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