To narrow the field, CBG confined this set of trials to hardy sages, those that would survive northern winters and return to bloom the following season. Of those they trialed, most passed the hardiness test, so hardiness was deemed the least important factor in their selections. Clumps usually display a loose, open habit, covered with deep purple flower spikes in summer that are especially attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. In the trials, both 'May Night' and 'Vesuvius' out-performed the standard 'East Friesland'. Evaluators were impressed with their strong stems, which supported an attractive vase shape longer than the others before flopping open.
Good posture translates into less staking in our gardens.
May Night' bloomed about a week earlier, on average, than 'Vesuvius', but the latter stayed colorful longer, due to rosy-hued bracts which held on for three weeks after the blooms faded. The repeat performances were fairly equal throughout, but the foliage of 'May Night' and 'Vesuvius' was deeper green and healthier looking the second time around, for exceptional vigor even late in the season. I was pleased to see 'Purple Rain' get the top rating, for it confirmed my own opinion of this superior cultivar. Dense mounds of fuzzy green leaves stay handsome all season in my garden, and, in fact, evaluators declared its habit the very best of all the sages. If the lavender spikes are deadheaded occasionally, they keep coming practically till frost.