Salvia Caradonna
£8.50
Frequently Bought Together
Description
Elegant, upright and wonderfully long-flowering, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is one of those plants that brings instant rhythm and richness to a border. Its deep violet-purple flower spikes rise above dark, almost black stems, creating a beautiful contrast that feels both contemporary and timeless.
This is a perennial that works incredibly hard in the garden. It flowers generously, attracts pollinators and pairs beautifully with roses, grasses and softer summer planting, making it a favourite for sunny borders and naturalistic schemes alike.
Why we love it
‘Caradonna’ has a lovely clarity to it — strong vertical lines, rich colour and a long season of interest. The dark stems give it extra depth and definition, helping it stand out beautifully among softer companions.
‘Caradonna’ has a lovely clarity to it — strong vertical lines, rich colour and a long season of interest. The dark stems give it extra depth and definition, helping it stand out beautifully among softer companions.
Appearance
This clump-forming herbaceous perennial produces slender spikes of rich violet-purple flowers held on striking deep plum-dark stems. The foliage is aromatic, grey-green and neatly mounded at the base, creating a tidy framework beneath the flowers. It has a light, airy quality in bloom, while still giving strong structure to a planting scheme.
This clump-forming herbaceous perennial produces slender spikes of rich violet-purple flowers held on striking deep plum-dark stems. The foliage is aromatic, grey-green and neatly mounded at the base, creating a tidy framework beneath the flowers. It has a light, airy quality in bloom, while still giving strong structure to a planting scheme.
Best for
- Sunny mixed borders
- Pollinator-friendly planting
- Cottage and contemporary gardens
- Gravel gardens and dry borders
- Repeated planting for rhythm and structure
Position
Best grown in full sun for the strongest flowering and best compact habit.
Best grown in full sun for the strongest flowering and best compact habit.
Soil
It prefers well-drained soil and is especially happy in lighter soils where it won’t sit wet through winter.
It prefers well-drained soil and is especially happy in lighter soils where it won’t sit wet through winter.
Growth habit
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is a compact, upright herbaceous perennial forming neat clumps of foliage with vertical flower spikes through summer.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is a compact, upright herbaceous perennial forming neat clumps of foliage with vertical flower spikes through summer.
Seasonal interest
- Late spring to summer: rich violet-purple flower spikes
- Summer: aromatic foliage and repeat flowering if deadheaded
- Autumn: lingering structure if left standing
- Winter: dies back, returning again in spring
Caragh’s Garden Notebook
Brilliant for adding vertical rhythm
Use ‘Caradonna’ to thread colour and structure through a sunny border without making it feel heavy.
Use ‘Caradonna’ to thread colour and structure through a sunny border without making it feel heavy.
Loved by pollinators
This is a lovely choice for gardens that want to feel alive with bees and other beneficial insects through summer.
This is a lovely choice for gardens that want to feel alive with bees and other beneficial insects through summer.
Deadheading helps
Cut back spent flower spikes after the first flush to encourage fresh growth and repeat flowering later in the season.
Cut back spent flower spikes after the first flush to encourage fresh growth and repeat flowering later in the season.
Planting idea
It looks especially beautiful with roses, nepeta, ornamental grasses, achillea and soft whites or dusky pinks.
It looks especially beautiful with roses, nepeta, ornamental grasses, achillea and soft whites or dusky pinks.
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