Salvia argentea (Silver Sage)

Prized for its furry silver leaves, award-winning Salvia argentea (Silver Sage) is a biennial or short-lived perennial forming a compact rosette of broadly ovate, scallop-edged, silvery white leaves, up to 8 in. long (20 cm). The leaves are densely covered with silver hairs that create a lovely wooly effect. Impossible to resist petting the soft, appealing foliage! In summer, many erect flowering stems bearing hooded, blush-white flowers adorned with silvery calyxes, rise well above the foliage. Native to dry, stony grasslands of Southern Europe, the eastern Mediterranean and northwest Africa, Silver Sage is well suited to borders or containers. It can be used as an accent plant in the rock garden, or at the front of the dry sunny border.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall (90-120 cm) and 2 ft. wide (60 cm). Will self-seed in the garden if left to flower.
• Performs best in full sun in light, moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Tolerates light shade, but best in full sun. Avoid wet soil, especially in winter. Drought tolerant once established.
• Perfect addition to perennial borders, wall-side borders, cottage gardens, Mediterranean gardens, rock gardens or containers.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs, snails and leafhoppers. Deer resistant.
• Cutting back the flower stalks may extend the life of the plant.
• Often dies after flowering so if you grow it for its foliage, remove flowers before they open.
• Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame in spring.
• Native to the Mediterranean area (Southern Europe to Northern Africa).