Salvia patens (Gentian Sage)
Gentian Sage, Spreading Sage, Blue-Flowered Sage, Salvia patens Dark Blue, Salvia patens 'Oxford Blue'
Eye-catching, with maybe the deepest and purest blue flowers in the world of plants, Salvia patens (Gentian Sage) is an erect, tuberous perennial with showy racemes of slightly nodding, 2-lipped blue flowers, 2 in. long (5 cm). Blooming from mid-summer to mid-fall, the blossoms are borne above the foliage of ovate to triangular mid-green leaves, 3 in. long (8 cm). Native to Mexico, Salvia patens is fairly pest-free and low maintenance. Add this charming and graceful perennial to the landscape, and you will be rewarded with abundant butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinating insects.
- Tender, this plant is hardy to zones 8-10 and is generally treated as an annual in cooler areas.
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
- Grow up to 2-3 ft. tall (60-90 cm) and 2 ft. wide (60 cm).
- Performs best in full sun, in moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soils. Light shade is tolerated.
- Well-suited to beds and borders, wall-side borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, or cottage gardens.
- No serious pest or disease issues. Deer resistant.
- Remove flower spikes as they fade to prolong flowering.
- Propagate by seed sown in pots or by overwintering tubers in damp potting compost. Propagate by rooting basal cuttings or softwood cuttings in spring or early summer.
Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide
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Requirements
Hardiness | 8
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 8
– 9 |
Climate Zones | 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Salvia - Sage |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 24" (60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
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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 | 8
– 10 |
---|---|
Heat Zones | 8
– 9 |
Climate Zones | 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Salvia - Sage |
Exposure | Full Sun |
Season of Interest |
Summer (Mid,Late) Fall |
Height | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 24" (60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy |
Tolerance | Deer |
Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers |
Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |