Silver Sage Salvia argentea
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-ah ar-jen-TAY-ah
- Description
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Silver sage is a biennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family and native to the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and northern Africa. Grown specifically for its large, white, wooly leaves, which appear in a rosette 6 to 12 inches tall and wide the first year, the plant flowers in the second growing season and then dies after flowering.The genus name Salvia is derived from the Latin term salveo, which means ‘be well’ and refers to the plant's medicinal properties.
Plant silver sage in full sun to partial shade and in well-drained soil. Avoid wet soil, especially in winter. It declines with heat and summer rain. Cutting back the flower stalks when they appear may promote longevity of the plant. It will self-seed in the garden if left to flower. It may also be propagated by removing lateral root shoots in the spring. It is resistant to drought and deer.
Because of its small size, silver sage’s best use is as a border or in a container. Its brightness works well in a nighttime garden, and its tactile quality makes it excellent for a children’s garden or one for the blind.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Slugs and snails are pests. Stem and root rot, powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot may also be problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Artemis'
- 'Artemis'
- 'Artemis'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Artemis'
- 'Artemis'
- 'Artemis'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- argentea
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Northern Africa
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, drought, dry soil.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Description:
- Early summer, white tinged with pink tubular hooded flowers whorled on a 2'-3' tall stem
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Downy, felt like large (8" long 6" wide) wrinkled leaves that form a rosette.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Nighttime Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
