🌸 Salvia horminum ‘Blue Monday’ – Clary Sage with Intense Blue Bracts for Summer Colour

‘Blue Monday’ is a striking annual clary sage grown primarily for its vivid blue bracts, which surround small, discreet flowers and provide long-lasting ornamental impact. The upright, well-branched plants create strong vertical accents in the garden, making this variety especially effective in borders, cottage gardens and cut-flower beds.

The colourful bracts retain their intensity for weeks and are excellent for fresh and dried arrangements. Easy to grow and tolerant of summer heat, ‘Blue Monday’ performs best when planted in groups for maximum visual effect and is also attractive to bees and pollinators.

Key Features

● Intense blue decorative bracts with long-lasting colour
● Upright, well-branched growth habit
● Excellent for borders, cutting and drying
● Easy to grow and heat tolerant
● Attractive to bees and beneficial insects

How to Sow & Grow Clary Sage ‘Blue Monday’ (UK)

Direct sowing recommended
Direct outdoors (spring): IV–V (April–May)
Direct outdoors (autumn): IX–X (September–October) (overwintering for earlier flowering)
Flowering: VI–IX (June–September)
Life cycle: Annual
Germination temperature: 15–20 °C (59–68 °F)
Average germ time: 10–21 days
Depth: 0.5 cm (¼ in)
Light required: Yes
Moisture: Moderate
Environment: Full sun
Soil type: Well-drained soil; tolerates poorer soils
Plant spacing: 25–30 cm (10–12 in)
Height: 40–60 cm (16–24 in)

Sowing & Growing Tips (variety-specific)

● Autumn sowing produces stronger plants and earlier flowering.
● Avoid overly rich soil to maintain compact growth.
● Deadhead lightly or harvest stems to encourage continued display.
● Excellent choice for naturalistic and pollinator-friendly plantings.
● Ideal for both fresh and dried flower use.