Salvia guaranitica

Salvia guaranitica, the anise-scented sage or hummingbird sage, is a species of flowering plant in the sage family, Lamiaceae, native to a wide area of South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. It is cultivated all over the world, and is naturalized in New Zealand and Chile.

Description
It is a perennial subshrub growing 4 to 5 ft tall, spreading into a large patch via its spreading roots. The leaves are ovate, 4 cm long and nearly as wide, with a fresh mint green color, and an anise scent when crushed. The inflorescences are up to 25 cm long with flowers in various shades of blue, including an uncommonly true blue. In cold regions, flowering begins in mid summer and continues until frost.

The species name originates from the Guaraní people of Brazil, who reportedly used the leaves as a sedative.

Cultivation
Salvia guaranitica is a popular ornamental plant in mild areas. It grows in either full or three quarter sunlight, in well-drained soil. Numerous cultivars have been selected, including 'Argentine Skies' (pale blue flowers), 'Black and Blue' (very dark violet blue calyx), 'Blue Ensign' (large blue flowers), and 'Purple Splendor' (Light purple flowers). The cultivar 'Blue Enigma', with pure blue flowers, has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.