I met Anthony Parker at Gold Rush Nursery last spring, and fell for him on sight. He was such an intriguing combination of others I love: fiery yet graceful Salvia elegans and tall, dark & handsome Salvia leucantha. Anthony has mom's leaves and dad's flowers. He knows his place, doesn't ask for much, and won't get out of hand. Bees and hummingbirds love him.
I was smitten.

I brought him home, planted him lovingly in the park strip, mulched him well, and proceeded to ignore him all summer. I know, I can be cruel like that. He got watered a couple of times, mostly by the strange bits of rain we had in San Jose over the summer. But with fall he is coming alive, and I am falling in love with him all over again. He'll probably leave me for awhile come winter, but then the Spanish Lavender brothers step in; obliging seedlings from a nearby plant that hang out with Anthony. A very fine arrangement indeed!

From San Marcos Growers

Salvia 'Anthony Parker' (Anthony Parker Bush Sage) A floriferous compact shrub that grows 4-5' feet tall by 4-5' feet wide with terminal dark blue-purple 'Indigo Spire'-like flowers from midsummer through fall. It was a spontaneous seedling hybrid that is presumed to be the result of a cross between the dark form of Mexican sage (Salvia leucantha 'Midnight') and Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans). It was discovered in the garden of designer Frances Parker of Beaufort, South Carolina and was named for her grandson in 1994. The leaves are a similar shape and have the vein pattern of pineapple sage but lack any fragrance. The flowers are similar to S. leucantha, but are narrower and purple-black.
Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F