Salvia farinacea

Blue sage is a herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Growing 1.5 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, it is native to the South Central United States and northeast Mexico. The flowers have a long bloom season. The name Salvia is derived from the Latin term salveo, which means ‘be well’ and refers to the plant's medicinal properties.

Grow this sage in full sun or partial shade. It prefers well-drained, moist soil but tolerates dry clay soil. Although blue sage is reliably perennial only in the outer coastal plain, it grows beautifully during the spring, summer, and fall and functions as an annual in the mountains and piedmont. Propagate it by stem cuttings or seed. 

Different cultivars offer flower colors from blue to purple and even white. It is an excellent bedding plant that looks neat and attractive all summer. Because the flower spikes are strong and upright it makes a good cut flower. Plant this sage in annual beds, along borders, and in naturalized areas. It is an ideal plant for butterfly, cottage, drought tolerant or pollinator gardens. This plant is seldom damaged by deer.

Quick ID

• Erect herbs with square stems
• Opposite ovate-lanceolate leaves
• Chalices short, cup-like, inconspicuous teeth
• Corollas zygomorphic, large lower lip, blue-purple

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  It is susceptible to downy and powdery mildew.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

More information on Salvia.