| PRONUNCIATION |
SALL-vee-uh soo-PURR-buh FREEZE-land |
| COMMON NAME |
variously called Purple Sage, Perennial Sage, Violet Sage |
| SYNONYMS |
|
| DERIVATION |
salvere (Latin) = to be saved (referring to healing properties); superba = superb, proud |
| FAMILY |
Labiatae - Mint |
| TYPE |
compact, mounded to shrubby, fibrous-rooted herbaceous perennial |
| USES |
as edging, for massing, in borders, cutting and drying, to attract butterflies |
| FLOWER |
tubular, hooded, in tight slender spikes; in tiered whorls at tips of branching, square stems; long-blooming |
| COLOUR |
variously described as dark violet-purple, violet-blue with a purple bract or indigo |
| FOLIAGE |
rough, medium-textured, narrowly oval, aromatic when crushed |
| COLOUR |
dull green, gray-green |
| HARDINESS |
Zone 3 |
| EXPOSURE |
full sun (preferred) to light shade |
| SOIL |
well-drained, rich, sandy or loamy, fertile |
| WATER |
ample moisture is required; drought-resistant once established |
| HEIGHT |
30" |
| SPREAD |
18" to 24" |
| BLOOM |
June (late spring well into summer) and may rebloom in fall if deadheaded |
| STAKING |
not necessary |
| DEADHEAD |
yes, after flowers fade and for rebloom in fall |
| PROBLEMS |
wet soil in winter is fatal |
| AFTERCARE |
cut back hard after flowering to induce compact growth and further flowering |
| FALL CARE |
cut to ground level |
| PROPAGATION |
reproduce named cultivars such as this asexually;
division: in spring or fall (may be slow to re-establish after division in spring because of long, stringy roots);
cuttings: in spring or early summer from shoot tips or shoots arising from the base of the plant and root them in a 50-50 mix of perlite and vermiculite |
| SEED CULTURE |
named cultivars will not come "true" from seed |
| FERTILIZER |
top dress in spring with compost or balanced organic fertilizer; fertilize in fall with bulb food or a 5-10-5 formulation |
| MULCH |
mulch to control weeds and retain soil moisture; provide winter cover after ground freezes |
| FORMS |
'Rose Queen' - rosy-violet, floppy
'Blue Queen' - deep violet-blue dwarf
'Lubeca' - violet-blue
'Mainacht'('May Night') - earlier- blooming
'Miss Indigo' - showy deep purple-blue |
| COMPANION PLANTS |
COMPANIONS PLANTS
|
DAYLILIES