Salvia Hybrid 'African Sky'

African Sky / Salvia African Sky / Rough Blue Sage

Botanical Name: Salvia hybrid 'African Sky'
Family: Lamiaceae
Origin: Horticultural hybrid (bred in Australia; parent species from Mexico)
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub

Overview

Salvia ‘African Sky’ is a tough, long-flowering shrub perfect for Adelaide and South Australia’s Mediterranean climate. Aromatic foliage forms a neat, mounded shape, covered for months with soft sky-blue to lavender-blue blooms that bring cool colour and constant pollinator activity. Ideal for low-maintenance borders, path edging, feature planting and larger pots.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.7–1 m H x 0.8–1.2 m W (naturally mounded)
• Growth Rate: 30-60 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fresh to mid-green, aromatic leaves; dense, branching habit
• Flowers: Soft sky-blue to lavender-blue two-lipped flowers mainly spring–autumn, with lighter winter spot-flowering in mild years
• Seasonal Interest: Reliable evergreen structure with peak colour spring through autumn
• Wildlife Value: Excellent for bees, butterflies and nectar-feeding birds (honeyeaters)
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant once established; Heat- and Coastal-tolerant; Light frost tolerant (to about –5 °C)
• Planting Density: Shrub borders: 1 plant per metre (dense) or 1 per 1.5 m for a looser effect; Mass planting: 3–4 plants per m²
• Pet Friendly: Yes — generally non-toxic to dogs & cats

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun for best flowering; tolerates light part shade
• Soil: Well-drained loam or sandy/gravely loam; on heavier clay, improve with gypsum and coarse grit to enhance drainage
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer (more often in heatwaves); rarely in winter if dry
• Maintenance: Mulch in spring; deadhead to extend blooms; prune by up to one-third in late winter to keep compact (avoid cutting into very old wood); light organic feed in early spring
• Lifespan: 7-12+ years
• Climate Zones: Suited to temperate and Mediterranean SA gardens, including coastal areas
• Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline; tolerates mildly acidic soils with good drainage

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Low, colour-rich borders and pathway edging that flower for months
• Mass plant for cohesive, water-wise ground-level structure and pollinator value
• Feature near entries, decks and outdoor living; excellent in larger pots for courtyard colour

Why You Will Love It

Months of cool, sky-blue colour with almost no fuss. ‘African Sky’ thrives in Adelaide’s heat and coastal conditions, staying neat, fragrant-foliaged and bee-magnet busy while needing only a quick yearly trim and occasional deep soak.