Mealy Sage Salvia farinacea

Mealycup sage is a tender herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae or mint family that has a long blooming season and attractive spikes of small violet-blue flowers. They bloom intermittently from spring until frost. Their coarsely serrated, green leaves are aromatic, and they are borne on squared stems. The plant grows in thick, rounded clumps and up to 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The nectar of the flowers attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It is hardy from zones 8 to 10, and it is frequently grown as an annual in areas where it will not survive in winter.

It is native to the south-central United States and northeast Mexico. It is typically found in prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, and woodland edges. 

The name, Salvia, is derived from the Latin term salveo which means "to save or heal" and refers to some of the plants in this genus's ability to be used for their medicinal properties. The epithet, farinacea, is from the Latin word farina which means "flour or meal." This refers to the powdery white hairs on the calyx of the flower and upper stems. The common name, Mealycup, is a combination of the words "mealy" meaning covered with a powdery meal and "cup" which refers to the shape of the calyx.

Grow this sage in full sun. It prefers well-drained, moist soil but tolerates dry clay soil. Although mealycup 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. Pruning after a long blooming period will help encourage the plant to produce thicker compact foliage and prevent it from becoming leggy.

Mealcup sage is an excellent choice for prolonged color and low maintenance in the home landscape, particularly in areas of extreme heat. 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.

Seasons of Interest:

Bloom: Spring, Summer, and Fall               Foliage: Spring, Summer, and Fall

Quick ID Hints:

• 2 to 3 feet tall, herbaceous perennial with erect, squared stems
• Opposite ovate-lanceolate green leaves with coarsely serrated margins
• Chalices short, cup-like, inconspicuous teeth
• Corollas zygomorphic, large lower lip, blue purple

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Mealycup sage generally has no serious insect or disease problems.  It is susceptible to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and damping-off. Well-drained soil and good air circulation are required. Some cultivars have shown a fair amount of resistance to phytophthora (where fair is defined as less than half the plants studied dying of the disease0. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.

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.