Salvia microphylla
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Salvia grahamii
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-ah my-kro-FIL-uh
- Description
-
Salvia microphylla is an evergreen shrub found in the wild in southeastern Arizona and the mountains of eastern, western, and southern Mexico. It is a very complex species which easily hybridizes, resulting in numerous hybrids and cultivars brought into horticulture since the 1990s. The specific epithet microphylla, from the Greek, means "small leaved". In Mexico, it is called "mirto de montes," or "myrtle of the mountains. This plant is slightly salt tolerant.
Salvia microphylla is grown in central Mexico as a medicinal plant, and used for making tea.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Flower Child
Candy pink flowers - Hot Lips
Bi-color red and white, dependent on temperature - San Carlos Festival
Red-violet flowers on compact plants
- Flower Child
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Flower Child
Candy pink flowers - Hot Lips
Bi-color red and white, dependent on temperature - San Carlos Festival
Red-violet flowers on compact plants
- Flower Child
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- microphylla
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Fever reducer, treatment for coughs
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico and southern Arizona
- Distribution:
- Southern US, Central America
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Edibility:
- Leaves have a scent of blackcurrant and can be used fresh or dried as a flavoring in an herbal tea,
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Dense
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- Usda Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Salt
