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 mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the Mediterranean, southern Europe, and northern Africa. Grown specifically for its large, white, woolly 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 species epithet is Latin for “silvery.”
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 temporarily delay flowering and the death 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 low profile, 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 sensory garden. It works well in cottage gardens or rock gardens.
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 developed 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
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Tiny, schizocarpic nutlets, typical for the genus.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Early summer, white, tubular, hooded flowers whorled on a 2- to 3-foot-tall inflorescence with candelabra branching.
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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:
- Opposite
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Downy, felt like large (8 inches long and 6 inches 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
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Nighttime Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Short-lived
