Marcus Salvia

Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'

Nature Hills Nursery

Compact Dwarf Cultivar with Reblooming Violet-Blue Spikes from June Through Fall
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 4-9
Grows 1 ft Tall and Wide
Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Pollution Tolerant
Sweetly Fragrant Flowers

$16⁹⁹

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Plant Size

Quart Container #1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Give this plant a spot with full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct light daily. If planted in too much shade, the stems will stretch, become floppy, and produce significantly fewer purple flower spikes.
Soil: Ideally, the soil should be loose and drain very quickly, as soggy roots are the quickest way to kill Salvia. If you are dealing with heavy clay soil, amend it with compost or plant in a raised bed to ensure water moves away from the roots.

Watering Requirements

Keep the soil consistently moist for the first few weeks after planting to help the root system establish. Once settled, Marcus Salvia is drought tolerant, though an occasional deep soaking during hot, dry spells will keep the foliage lush and prevent the plant from going dormant in the summer heat.

Pruning Tips

Because this perennial blooms on new growth, you should cut the old stems down to just a few inches above the ground in late winter or very early spring before new green shoots emerge. During the growing season, shear off the top third of the plant after the first flush of flowers fades; this technique removes spent blooms and encourages a second wave of color.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a handful of compost or a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring when you see new growth starting. Avoid heavy fertilization, especially products high in nitrogen, as this promotes weak, leggy stems that tend to flop over rather than sturdy, flower-filled growth.

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
Plant Life Cycle	Perennial
Blooms In	Spring, Summer, Fall
Flower Color	Blue, Purple
Foliage Color	Green
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Indoors, Outdoors
Botanical Name	Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'
Species	nemorosa
Cultivar	Marcus
Class	Lamiales
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Dip-dye your daily experience with colorful flowering perennials! Marcus Salvia (Salvia nemorosa 'Haeumanarc') is a new dwarf version of the exquisite May Night Salvia. The rich, bold hues of this flowering eye candy start in June and keep on returning through fall! Saturated spikes of reblooming violet-blue flowers rise high above mounds of airy, gray-green aromatic foliage.

With its compact, dense growth, the spires of dramatic flowers stand tall over the dark mounds of textured foliage. Marcus Salvia is a magnet for butterflies, honey bees, and Hummingbirds. But thankfully, deer tend to steer clear! Snip the blooms for little bouquets without feeling like you are depriving your pollinators! Doing this actually encourages additional flushes of flowers!

Wonderfully hardy and easy to grow, these cold-hardy plants grow throughout USDA planting zones 3 to 8 and shine in the full sun without shrinking, browning, or withering! These plants retain their native hardiness and are low-water usage plants!

Planting and Application:

Now, even plant lovers who live on tiny lots or care for a balcony garden can surround themselves with saturated color all season long!

Either the ground as single specimens, in groupings, or used as a gorgeous "Filler" in container gardening. These space-saving lovelies are oh-so-easy-to-grow! Any sunny site in your courtyard, around the mailbox, or potted up in a decorative container on your front porch, Marcus adds depth and dimension to your beds and borders alike!

Weave Marcus Perennial Sage all along the sunny edge of your shrub borders, and use them as edging to tidy up the front of a Cottage garden border. Mass them to solve bare, open ground with their mysterious dark purple-blue flower spikes and lush, gray-green mounding foliage.

These perennials have retained their hardy native roots and work effectively in Rock Gardens and along the road, driveway, or sidewalk in the harsh setting known as the hell strip. Heat-loving Salvia performs beautifully with minimal care. Take the opportunity to trim nearly spent flowers regularly...and you'll gain an exciting vertical accent in cut flower arrangements.

Slope plantings are a great way to use this durable, low-growing selection. They'll even help control erosion for you and beautify a hard-to-mow hillside! Let these sun-loving lovelies spill over retaining walls and dry river bed plantings to create mats of vivid color!

Dramatically Dark Purple Flowers
Long-Lasting Blooms - June to First Frost
Showy and Versatile - Terrific Cut Flowers
Attracts Butterflies Rely on the Nectar & Hummingbirds Love Them, Too!
Compact, Dwarf Form With Upright Flowering Spires
Patio or Balcony Containers, En Masse, Borders, Edging & Specimen Plantings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Give Marcus Perennial Salvia full sun, where they'll get at least six hours of sunlight. Ensure the soil drains quickly, especially during winter. Despite being low-water usage plants, these perennials do best when young if you provide regular moisture until they are established. After, Salvia are low-water usage plants and just need supplemental moisture during extended heat and drought.

Provide a dose of spring fertilizer and a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch around the roots keeps soil moisture more consistent and insulate the roots. Salvia is a woody herbaceous perennial that looks best if the mounds of greenery are cut back in the late winter or early spring. Keep those bold blooms popping until fall with regular deadheading. These plants appreciate being divided every 3-5 years to keep them blooming and growing vigorously.

Great for Hot, Dry Sites In Full Sun
Keep in Sharply Drained Soil
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs
Prune Back Late Winter or Early Spring
Deadhead To Encourage New Blooms Spring til Fall
Easy to Grow Plants & Deer Tend to Leave Them Alone

Turn your house into the "party house" for your local butterflies with thoughtful, colorful plantings. Order the Perennial Sage, Marcus Dwarf Salvia from our native pollinator plant experts at Nature Hills Nursery today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marcus Salvia cold hardy in zone 4?

Marcus Salvia thrives in USDA zones 3-8, making it perfectly hardy for zone 4 winters. This cold-hardy perennial retains its native hardiness and will reliably return each spring. Plant in full sun for best performance and winter survival.

What are the sunlight requirements for Marcus Salvia?

Marcus Salvia thrives in full sun and won't shrink, brown, or wither in intense sunlight. This heat-loving perennial actually performs best with maximum sun exposure in zones 3-8. Plant it in your sunniest spots for continuous blooms from June through fall.

Does Marcus Salvia tolerate drought and clay soil?

Marcus Salvia is drought-tolerant once established, retaining its native hardiness as a low-water usage plant. It adapts well to various soil conditions including clay, thriving in USDA zones 3-8. Plant in full sun for best performance and allow soil to dry between waterings.

Does Marcus Salvia need deadheading to rebloom?

Marcus Salvia will rebloom without deadheading, but removing spent flowers encourages additional flushes of blooms. The violet-blue spikes naturally return from June through fall in zones 3-8. Snip flowers freely for bouquets to promote more flowering.

Is Marcus Salvia deer resistant?

Yes, Marcus Salvia is deer resistant - deer tend to steer clear of this aromatic perennial. The fragrant gray-green foliage naturally deters browsing while attracting beneficial pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. Plant it confidently in open areas where deer are common, available at naturehills.com.

How do I prune Marcus Salvia to encourage more flowers?

Deadhead spent flower spikes regularly to trigger additional flushes of blooms throughout the season. Cut the flower stems back to just above the foliage mound after each flowering cycle. This pruning method keeps Marcus Salvia blooming from June through fall.

Can Marcus Salvia be planted in small spaces or containers?

Marcus Salvia is perfectly suited for small spaces and containers thanks to its compact, dwarf growth habit. This space-saving perennial thrives in zones 3-8 and works beautifully as container "filler" or single specimens on balconies and patios. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil for best results.

What fertilizer should I use for Marcus Salvia, and how often?

Marcus Salvia thrives with minimal feeding thanks to its hardy native roots. A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied once in early spring is sufficient for zones 3-8. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can reduce flowering and attract pests that deer avoid naturally.

Marcus Salvia

Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'