Bumbleberry Salvia

Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleberry'

Nature Hills Nursery

Deep Purple-Wine Spikes with Fuchsia-Pink Florets Create Dramatic Season-Long Color Contrast
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 3-8
Grows 1 ft Tall and Wide
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Pollution Tolerant
Ideal for Border or Small groups

$34⁶¹

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Give your Bumbleberry Salvia at least 6 hours of direct sun daily for the best flower production. While it can handle light afternoon shade (partial shade), expect slightly fewer flowers and potentially less intense purple-pink coloration.
Soil: This Salvia is adaptable, but it truly thrives in well-drained soil. If you have heavy clay, amend the planting site generously with coarse material like compost or pine bark fines to ensure water moves away quickly. Good drainage prevents root rot, which is its main enemy.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist until the plant is established. Once established, Bumbleberry Salvia is quite drought-tolerant. However, for a continuous show of large, vibrant blooms, consistent watering during dry spells is best; inconsistent moisture will cause the flowers to be smaller and the plant to look stressed.

Pruning Tips

This plant blooms on new wood (new growth produced this season), which makes pruning simple. Perform a "deadheading" cut just above a set of healthy leaves right after the first major flush of blooms starts to fade. This encourages the plant to put energy into a second, strong wave of flowers instead of setting seed, extending your bloom season well into late summer. In early spring, cut the entire plant back by about one-third before new growth begins.

Fertilizer Needs

Use a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring just as new growth emerges. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the season (after mid-summer). Too much nitrogen late in the year encourages tender leaf growth that won't harden off properly, making the plant more vulnerable to frost damage over winter.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Low Maintenance, Compact/Dwarf, Flowering, Reblooming, Deer-resistant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts pollinators, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	1 ft
Width	1 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Chalky, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Upright
Blooms In	Fall, Summer
Flower Color	Purple, Pink
Foliage Color	Green
Suitable Space	Indoors, Outdoors
Botanical Name	Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleberry'
Species	nemorosa
Cultivar	Bumbleberry
Class	Lamiales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Incredibly vibrant, deep dark hues and bright highlights, the Bumbleberry Salvia PP 31602 (Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleberry') is an amazingly dramatic perennial! The showy, eye-catching color is not to be missed! You'll love Bumbleberry all growing season, especially as fall starts coming and these perennials are still blooming!

Intensely fuchsia-pink blooms on long, dark purple-wine colored spikes, rise above equally deep-green foliage in low mounds. The contrast of bright florets on dark purple stems amps up the effect! The aromatic foliage is fast growing and forms upright, well-branched clumps that fill out in dramatic flower spikes.

In early summer, Perennial Salvias' fragrant flowers attract butterflies and pollinators! Even Hummingbirds love everything about these showy blooms! But don't worry about deer and rabbits! Heat and cold tolerant, these are incredibly easy to grow perennials!

How to Use Bumbleberry Salvia In The Landscape

This dramatic color deserves to take center stage! Perfect in sunny containers, patios or entries, these clump-forming perennials are fantastic facer and edging plants along foundation plantings and mailbox. If you have a sunny perennial border, you'll want to create a bountiful massed planting for some showy style. Relax and watch the hummingbirds feast on their nectar!

Perfect front of the border perennial and Cottage gardens, Bumbleberry's bold color is petite and fits any garden size. Try setting Bumbleberry Meadow Sage up in large outdoor planters as a single-species specimen planting? Flank either side of your front door with a pair of them. Add a sophisticated set of potted Salvias to your pool deck or patio!

Specimen plantings and cut flower gardens, these hardy, fragrant plants are also amazing cut and dried flowers! Pollinator Gardens, Rock Gardens, and any sunny landsscape benefits from the bold flowers! Even flower vases indoors!

Vibrant Dark Fuchsia-Pink Flower Spikes
Deep Dark-Green Foliage
Upright Low Mounding Perennial
Easy Care & Adaptable
Herbal Scented Top to Bottom!
Deer and Rabbit Resistant

#ProPlantTips For Care

Full sun is a requirement for these vibrant flowering perennials. Six hours of direct sunlight is a minimum. In the very hottest areas, you could try them with a bit of afternoon shade. Otherwise, more sun means more color.

Easy to grow plants, these hardy Perennial Sages have average to low water requirements, you'll not need to worry about the summer heat, but bloom best with regular watering. All pants appreciate a 3- inch layer of mulch. Growing in almost any climate in zones 3-8, these Salvia are wonderfully easy to grow!

Salt and drought tolerant and adaptable to nearly all organically rich, any well-drained soil is perfect for these easy-to-grow plants. Deadhead as flowers fade to encourage a rebloom, often flowering until frost! In early spring, prune back the clump before new growth emerges. Divide clumps every 3-5 years to maintain vigor.

Full Sun
Any Well-Drained Soil
Moderate Regular Water
Deadhead For Rebloom & Prune Early Spring
Deer & Rabbit Resistant

Eye-popping color and fragrance! For pollinators, bouquets, planters and astoundingly deep, intense color, Bumbleberry Salvia is the plant you shouldn't miss out on! Order yours today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prune or deadhead Bumbleberry Salvia to encourage reblooming?

Deadhead spent flower spikes by cutting back to the first set of leaves to promote continuous blooming through fall. For Bumbleberry Salvia, cut the dark purple stems just above where new growth emerges. This encourages the fast-growing, well-branched clumps to produce more dramatic fuchsia-pink spikes all season long.

Will Bumbleberry Salvia survive winter in zones 5-6, and how?

Yes, Bumbleberry Salvia is cold tolerant and will survive winters in zones 5-6. As a hardy perennial, it will die back to the ground after hard frost but return in spring. Cut stems back to 2-3 inches in late fall and mulch around the base for extra protection.

Can I grow Bumbleberry Salvia in containers, and what size pot is needed?

Bumbleberry Salvia thrives in containers and makes an excellent patio specimen. Use a pot at least 12-14 inches wide to accommodate its clumping growth habit. Place containers in full sun and consider flanking your front door with a pair for dramatic impact.

What common pests or problems affect Bumbleberry Salvia, like flopping or legginess?

Bumbleberry Salvia is remarkably problem-free, with deer and rabbit resistance built in. Its upright, well-branched growth habit naturally prevents the flopping common in taller perennials. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to maintain compact form and encourage continuous flowering through fall.

How is Bumbleberry Salvia shipped—bare root, potted, or plugs?

Bumbleberry Salvia ships as potted plants from Nature Hills, ready to establish quickly in your garden. These hardy perennials arrive with developed root systems that transplant easily into containers or landscape beds.

What is the best time of year to plant Bumbleberry Salvia for success?

Plant Bumbleberry Salvia in spring after the last frost date for best establishment. This heat and cold tolerant perennial can also be planted in early fall, giving roots time to establish before winter. Choose a sunny location and water regularly until established.

Does Bumbleberry Salvia attract hummingbirds, butterflies, or pollinators?

Bumbleberry Salvia attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators with its fragrant, nectar-rich blooms. The intensely fuchsia-pink flowers on long spikes are especially appealing to hummingbirds throughout the growing season. Plant in sunny locations for maximum pollinator activity.

Is Bumbleberry Salvia deer-resistant or tolerant of poor soil?

Bumbleberry Salvia is deer and rabbit resistant, making it perfect for problem areas. These hardy perennials tolerate both heat and cold while attracting beneficial pollinators. Plant in sunny locations for best blooms and natural pest protection.

Bumbleberry Salvia

Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleberry'