Salvia serboana (syn. vitifolia)

A relatively recent introduction from the mountain forests of Oaxaca, Mexico, this close relation of S. patens has much bigger, softly hairy, triangular foliage and strong growth to 1.8m in one season. Large intense deep blue flowers in late summer atop the stems. This proved totally hardy for the late Salvia guru Robin Middleton in Bagshot, Surrey. Sun or semi-shade, not too scorched and dry.