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Blue anise sage is a semi-woody perennial subshrub with a loose, bushy, rather open form. It gets 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m) tall and just as wide, and has branched, dark green stems that are square in cross section. The branches and leaves are in pairs originating on opposite sides of the stems. The leaves are 2-5 in (5.1-12.7 cm) long, more or less oval in shape, slightly toothed, dark green, wrinkled above and pale green below. They do not smell like anise. The individual flowers are tubular, to 2 in (5.1 cm) long, with a hoodlike upper lip and a shorter, downward pointing lower lip. They are borne in showy 10 in (25.4 cm) spikes from early summer to late autumn. Popular cultivars are 'Argentina Skies', with pale blue flowers; 'Black and Blue', a larger selection, to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, with deep blue flowers and dark purple calyces (the part of the flower that encloses the base of the petals); and 'Purple Splendour', with very dark purple flowers.
Blue anise sage is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern Argentina.
Culture
Blue anise sedge is a reliable bloomer throughout the whole summer. It has a tendency to get pretty large after a few good years, so give it some room. Use it in the background in borders and in mixed shrub and perennial plantings. The deep blue-flowered cultivars are especially showy. Hummingbirds and butterflies love most of the sages and this one is no exception, so be sure to include it in your butterfly garden.
Features Steve Christman 4/13/00; updated 2/7/04
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