Growing zones
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Cultivate Beauty With McKay Nursery
Explore the timeless charm and enduring beauty of May Night Salvia, awarded the 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year, from McKay Nursery. This resilient and vibrant plant enhances any garden with its long-lasting blooms and fragrant leaves. Whether you’re crafting a butterfly garden, cottage garden, or bold perennial border, this plant offers both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits for all gardeners. Order your very own May Night Salvia today and bring the arresting beauty of its blooms to your garden! For further inquiries or to purchase this plant, contact us at [email protected] or call 920-478-2121. Let us help you enrich your garden with plants that bring joy and color to every corner.
- Sun
Mature Plant Size (H x W):
18-24" x 18-24" 
Bloom Season:
Summer
- Attracts Bees
- Attracts Birds
- Deer Resistant
- Drought Tolerant
- Low Maintenance
- Long Blooming
- Award Winning
- Attracts Butterflies
- Cut Flower
- Fragrant Leaves
- Attracts Pollinators
Planting & Care for Salvia
Preparation
- This plant is tolerant to drought conditions.
- Mature size is around 20" tall x 24" wide.
- Prefers moist, humusy, well-drained soils, but also performs well in gravelly or sandy soils.
- Plants may repeat bloom throughout the summer but need regular moisture to encourage this.
- Plants may spread somewhat rapidly in optimum growing conditions.
- Plants like cool night temperatures.
- This plant is most effective when used along perennial borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, or wild gardens. Also effective in drifts or masses in mixed flower beds. This makes a long-lasting cut flower.
Opening Plant Material
- Containers: Completely saturate all container plants by putting them in a larger water container until bubbling stops. Remove the plant, then dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container, ensuring it’s wider on the sides by an additional 6” or more.
Planting containers
- Plant in March, May – November.
- Dig a hole no deeper than the depth of the container and 6" or wider on the sides.
- Slide the plant from the pot by tapping on the bottom of the pot.
- With a shovel or knife, trim the bottom 2" off the root ball for plants in plastic containers.
- Rotate the plant to the proper position. Never lift or move plants by the tops.
Place the root ball in the hole. - Adjust the plant height so the root crown is slightly higher than the ground.
Notice where the base of the trunk flares out from the tree. This is called the root flare. This root flare should show when the tree is planted. Add soil under the ball so the root flare is exposed if necessary. - Place fertilizer packets into the bottom of the hole (if purchased). *Use Our Recommended Fertilizer.
- Backfill the hole with soil, ensuring the top of the root ball is visible and slightly higher than the soil around it.
- Firm the soil around the plant. Water well to settle soil around the root ball.
Pruning - After Planting
- Containers: Although it’s not essential after planting, a light cut back can help shape a May May Night sage. Doing so removes any broken branches from shipping or thins out a heavily branched plant to assist in the transplanting process and the appearance of your new planting.
Pruning - Through-out the Season
- Remove spent flower spikes to help extend the bloom period.
- Plants may become somewhat floppy and open up as the summer progresses, particularly in hot and humid climates. If plants flop or otherwise depreciate in summer, consider cutting them back to the basal foliage.
- In any event, cut plants back after flowering has concluded.
Watering - After Planting
- Plants typically take approximately 6 weeks to establish new roots in your soil. During this period, water plants as often as every 2-4 days at the start and at least a minimum of once per week.
- Beyond the six-week establishment period, water once per week unless rain occurs.
- Remember to check soil moisture by sticking your finger into the soil around 3”.
Watering - Through-out the Season
- After the first season, plants should only be watered during extended periods without rain.
- How do you know if your plants need water? The easiest way to tell is to touch the soil around the roots. If it is moist, there is no need to water. If it’s dry, give it a good soak with the hose end (no nozzle), watering the soil only, not the leaves.
- Same as after planting, stick your finger into the soil around 3” to check soil moisture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best growing zones for May Night Salvia?
Can May Night Salvia plants bloom all year long?
How do you propagate Meadow sage?
What pests are common to May Night Salvia sage?
What plant diseases are common to May Night Salvia sage?
Planting & Handling Help
Download our Planting and Handling Guide below to plan for a successful arrival and install of your plants. Be sure to water all plants as soon as they arrive and every day until you’re ready to plant. Keep any bare root bundles in a shady, cool spot with the roots covered at all times.
Learn More
Watch our videos on handling bare root plants, how your order is prepared for shipment and more.
Plant Sizing
What is the difference between Containers, Grow Bags, Bare Root, and Balled & Burlap (B&B)?
Shipping Times
Our FedEx and local shipping times depend on two factors, one is by the region and the second is the type of product being shipped. For example, small fruits are only shipped in spring, but majority of our perennials are shipped from spring until fall. Keep in mind the dates below act as a general guide. Due to unpredictable weather, staffing, inventory and industry demands these timelines can change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee any of these times.
Shipping Dates by Region*
Northern Cold Region: April 22nd - November 7th
Northern Region: April 15th - November 7th
Middle Region: April 1st - November 7th
Southern Region: March 15th - November 7th
Local Delivery (small radius from Waterloo, WI): April 22nd - November 7th
Shipping Dates by Season*
Spring Shipping: Region Start Date (above) - May
Fall Shipping: September - November
Due to unpredictable weather, these times may vary. Some varieties are exceptions due to heat and plant health reasons. Enter your shipping zip code at the top of this page and be sure to check the shipping information on each product before you add it to your cart. If the product is too large or restricted in your state, you will not be able to checkout with that item in your cart.