I have an Indigo Spires salvia that has outgrown its place in my back bed. I like the look, but have to get something smaller.I've read that Mystic spires is smaller, but is that true in Texas? Lots of things seem to grow bigger than what is stated on the tag (or i'm a bad judge of what 3 feet tall will look like in my garden) If there isn't much difference between the two cultivars,I'll rethink which plant needs to go in there. So anyone that has grown both, please let me know your opinions!!
indigo spires salvia/mystic spires
I've not grown Mystic Spire (only Indigo). But if the space is constrained, have you tried Mealy Blue? That might be a good alternative.
Carla
I have a dwarf Mystic Spires that grows about 21/2 ft high, so I am guessing the regular would be larger!
My 'Mystic Spires' grows to 38", while its non-irradiated parent, 'Indigo Spires', tops out at 60" (no supplemental irrigation to either).
Nifty413, Is the height you mentioned with the flowers stalks or just the main leaves?
That would be their total height for me -- from the ground to the tops of the flower stalks.
I would agree with the 60" to flower tips, the leaves are all along the stems and it is a very sparse stem so when it gets the flower heads it starts drooping. It takes up way too much room for a small bed or close to the edge of one. I do love the bee and butterfly action I get on it though.
I grow both. My Mystic is in a spot it doesn't much like, so it stays pretty small--maybe 15" x 15"? I have a cutting Indigo in the same bed. It doesn't much like that location either and stays about 2'x2'. The parent Indigo is in a spot it loves, and it gets about 5'x5'.
pbtxlady, That's really interesting how much it can vary in the same yard. What are your growing conditions it "doesn't like"?? I would have to say my Indigo Spires is about 5 ft by 5ft also..If I could get it to stay 2x2 it would be perfect.
LOL--this bed is what Barbara calls a "Texas can't kill it" bed. It's a very hot spot, out by the mailbox between the sidewalk and the street. Terrible soil, and did I mention that we live on the downside of a hill? So every time I amend it, all the amendments wash away and I'm back to caliche. I also can't easily get enough water to that corner. But there are a couple of things that are very happy there: the natives like liatris, skullcap, mealy-cup sage. Then there's the other group that just tolerates it: Indigo, Mystic, Lady in Red salvia, Mexican mint marigold, and pink ruellia. All the things in the latter group do much better in my "real" beds.
Thanks for the info. The bed I have mine in has been somewhat amended for all the clay we have, so it holds moisture.It's mostly sun, but some late afternoon shade.Probably closer to your real beds than your "Texas can't kill it" bed...so I'm going to replace it this fall....
Well, there ya go. With good soil I'll bet it'll be very happy.