Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ (Tricolor Sage)
Tricolor Sage, Sage 'Tricolor Sage'
Prized for its kaleidoscope of colors, Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ (Tricolor Sage) is a spreading evergreen sub-shrub with strongly aromatic, oblong, gray-green leaves adorned with cream-white and pink streaks. The leaves may be used fresh or dried in cooking. In early summer, it sends up whorls of two-lipped, light blue flowers on short, upright flower spikes. Great for the herb garden, Tricolor Sage is also wonderful in perennial borders and in cottage gardens.
- Easy to grow, Tricolor Sage grows in clumps up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm).
- Enjoys full sun (light shade is tolerated) in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Avoid excessive winter wet.
- This superb cultivar is really an interesting plant that makes an attractive accent in beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, cottage gardens, Mediterranean gardens, herb gardens or containers.
- Keep an eye out for sage leaf hopper, capsid bug, slugs, foot and root rots, powdery mildew and verticillium wilt.
- Drought tolerant and deer resistant, it is attractive to bees, butterflies and occasionally to hummingbirds.
- Clip the foliage back in spring to promote fresh new leaves.
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or semi-hardwood in late summer
Requirements
| Hardiness |
6 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 10 |
| Climate Zones | 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Herbs, Perennials, Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" (50cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
Alternative Plants to Consider
Recommended Companion Plants
Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens
Manfred Ruckszio, Shutterstock
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Requirements
| Hardiness |
6 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 10 |
| Climate Zones | 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Herbs, Perennials, Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Spring (Early, Mid, Late) Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall Winter |
| Height |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 18" (50cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
