- Height 24-48 Inches
- Width 24-36 Inches
- Use as a thriller when using in containers
- Grow as an annual, edible herb or for cut flowers!
This fragrant thriller will be a focal point in your pots or landscape. A salvia with rich colored foliage and blooms, Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® will wow you with its spikes of densely packed flowers. This continuous bloomer is sterile, so it doesn’t set seed, meaning more flowers in your garden. When the blue/purple blooms fall, color remains in the deep blue calyx – the whorls that enclose the flower – making this plant a truly long-season beauty. With an upright, compact habit, Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® grows 24-48 inches tall. It has won awards for top performance and for best-pollinator friendly.
Being drought and heat tolerant, this salvia holds up to hot conditions. It resists deer and rabbits while attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It is native to Texas and Mexico. Use it in mass plantings in the landscape, and as a specimen or focal point in the border or in containers. It works well in the cut-flower garden.
Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia Care
Fertilize this easy-care plant at the time of planting with a slow-release fertilizer formulated for annuals. Incorporate the fertilizer into the soil according to package instructions. You may plant it in poor-to-average soil; it will thrive even in rocky conditions. It will grow well without supplemental fertility if sited in a well-prepared soil containing compost.
No deadheading or pruning is necessary, but you may want to trim it occasionally to keep it in shape and to promote branching and blooming. It is most important that the soil is well drained as this salvia will not do well in wet, boggy conditions. Likewise, containers should drain well. It likes a location with full to part sun.
Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia Spacing
Grow Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® in your bigger pots to get better drainage. Place one salvia in the middle with shorter plants around it to spill over the edge. For example, in a 16-inch container plant salvia with two Supertunias® and one euphorbia. In the landscape, space Playin' the Blues® 14-18 inches apart, from center plant to center plant. Place them so that they have good air flow to help plants dry off after the rain and thus avoiding powdery mildew. You will be amazed at how bees are attracted to this plant by its strong, pleasant scent. It is important that we support our native bees; if their numbers are a concern, however, you may want to locate the plant away from a seating area.
Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7-10 |
Flower Color(s): Blue, Purple |
Bloom Period: Planting To Hard Frost |
Foliage Color(s) Green |
Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun |
Height Class: Tall |
Height: 24-48 Inches |
Spread: 24-36 Inches |
Spacing: 14-18 Inches |
Habit: Upright |
Watering: Average |
Drought Tolerant: Yes |
Attracts: Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Resists: Deer |
Container Role: Thriller |
Use Types: Container, Landscape, Mass Planting, Specimen or Focal Point |
Features: Cut Flower, Fall Interest, Continuous Bloom or Rebloomer, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Deadheading Not Necessary, Pollinator Attractor |
Maintenance: Easy |
Scientific Name: Salvia longispicata x farinacea 'Balsalmispim' USPP 29,604 |
Common Name: Rockin'® Playin' the Blues® Salvia |
Other Name(s): |
Plant Type: Annual |
Brand: Proven Winners |
- SKU:
- SALPBP
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

3.5" Pot
Also Known As:
3.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
~1.42 quarts

4.25" Pot
Also Known As:
4.25" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.93"H x 4.25"W
Volume:
~1.56 pints

Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
~1.50 quarts

#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
~2.26-3.73 quarts

Best in Class Warranty
We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
Arrival Guarantee
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
30 Days
For annuals, houseplants & vegetables, we provide a 30-day warranty to ensure that your plants thrive.

Pre-Ordered Plants
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated Spring Shipping Schedule
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 24th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants Shipping Now
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.