Photos thanks to Walters Gardens, Inc.

1997 Perennial Plant of the Year®

The Perennial Plant Association announced Salvia ‘May Night’ (‘Mainacht’) as the Perennial Plant of the Year® for 1997. Salvias, members of the large mint family, are known for their aromatic foliage, attractive leaves, and long season of bloom.

May Night is one of the most versatile cultivars. Bred and introduced in 1956 by the famous German plantsman and philosopher Karl Foerster, it is thought to be a hybrid between S. pratensis and S. nemerosa. It has the typical square stem of the mints, deliciously fragrant foliage, and its flowers are attractive to honey bees and other garden-flower pollinators. Leaves are slightly blue-gray in color, finely toothed, hairy, and about 2-3″ long.

Salvias love sun, and May Night is no exception. It will grow in a variety of soils, but does best in moderately rich soils, and even dry ones that occasionally stress the plant during short-term summer droughts.The growth habit of ‘May Night’ is distinctively stiff and upright, forming a small mound.

But it is the gorgeous floral display that sets this gem apart from its plainer cousins. Florets are borne on upright spike-like inflorescence which are deep, rich, indigo-black, outlined with delicate purple bracts. When mature, this plant will be 24-30 inches tall and 12-24 inches across.The main flowering time for ‘May Night’ is in May/June and the bloom time extends into July.

Place ‘May Night’ in the middle of the perennial border, or use it as a specimen plant. ‘May Night’ does best in hardiness zones 4 through 8, and it likes a winter mulch in colder areas. However, as with so many perennials, placing it in soils that are well drained during the winter increases plant vigor and extends its life. It has no serious disease or pest problems, although in hot humid areas it will occasionally be attacked by spider mites.

In northern gardens, Salvia prefers sunny locations, but would probably benefit from light shade in the more intense summer heat of southern gardens. Plant ‘May Night’ in a soil that is moderately well drained, especially during the winter. ‘May Night’ can be easily established from container-grown plants anytime during the growing season, or from bare-root field divisions during spring. When planting, be sure to dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant, and place at the same depth as it was in the container or in its previous location. Firm the soil around the plant and water-in thoroughly. Salvias do best in a moderately rich soil, so a spring application of an organic fertilizer or general purpose fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 or a 10-6-4 at the rate of 1-2 lbs per thousand square feet is adequate.

In the perennial border,’May Night’ is especially good in combination with the yellow Achillea ‘Coronation Gold’ or with pink or red herbaceous peonies.

Photos thanks to Midwest Groundcovers.

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PLANT DATA

Hardiness
USDA Zones 4 to 8

Light
Full sun preferred

Size
24-30 inches tall; 12-24 inches wide

Soil
Average to dry garden soil. Dislikes winter wet.