Salvia uliginosa (bog sage)

Japanese name: サルビア ウリギノサ
Scientific name: Salvia uliginosa

[Overview]
A perennial 1–2 m tall that grows in wetlands and similar places in its native range.
It spreads sideways by sending out underground stems, and grows thick, with a clump width about equal to its height.
The stem has 4 ridges.
Leaves are simple and opposite, elliptic-lanceolate to hastate, about 10 cm long, with toothed margins.
The flowers are borne in large numbers in verticillasters; they are clear blue and lip-shaped, with a white marking on the lower lip.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or cuttings.
It is cold hardy, and even if the aboveground parts die back in winter, it will sprout again in spring as long as the roots do not freeze.
If freezing is a concern, protect it from the cold by, for example, laying straw around the base of the plant.
It prefers sunny, well-ventilated, well-drained, moderately moist, fertile soil.
If the site is not sunny enough, it may become leggy and weak, and flowering is poor.
Established plants tolerate dryness, so rainfall is sufficient unless summer brings a long spell of sunny weather and the soil dries out.
No fertilizer is particularly needed if fertilizer is applied at planting.
If it grows too long and becomes untidy, cut it back hard to reshape it.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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