Woodland Sage Salvia nemorosa
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Sclarea nemorosa
- Sclarea punctata
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh nem-or-OH-suh
- Description
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Woodland sage is a clump-forming, deciduous perennial in the Lamiaceae (mint) family native to Europe and west-central Asia. It may grow as high as 3 feet and 2 feet wide. Salvia, the genus name, comes from the Latin word salveo, meaning ‘be well’.
This is an easy plant to grow in full sun to partial shade in average, moist, well-drained soil. It prefers sandy or gravelly soil but tolerates most well-drained soils even dry soils. It is drought tolerant and is seldom damaged by deer or rabbit browsing. Propagate it by seed or stem cuttings.
The violet-blue flowers appear on dense spike-like racemes from June to September. Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Once the plant has bloomed and the stem has turned brown, cut it down to the basal leaves and new flowers will appear. They often repeat bloom more than once. Many cultivars exist to extend the flower color and size range available.
Use woodland sage in the front of a perennial border in groups of three or more for the best effect. It is also useful in a pollinator or cottage garden, along walkways, and in small spaces.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora and aerial blight. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
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 landscapes:
- Pollinator Garden in Full Sun Floricyle Extension Master Gardener℠ Demonstration Garden, Durham Co.
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Balyriclu' Lyrical™ Blues
Dark burgandy buds violet blue flowers, compact - 'Caradonna'
Dark purple stems and blue-violet flowers - 'May Night'
Dark violet blue purple flowers in May-June - 'New Dimension Rose'
vivid rose pink flowers on upright 10-12" flower stalks. - 'New Dimensions Blue'
Dark blue flowers, 1-2 feet tall - Pink Profusion
- 'Swifty Violet Blue'
- 'Violet Profusion'
Good resistance to phytophthora and aerial blight.
- 'Balyriclu' Lyrical™ Blues
- 'Balyriclu' Lyrical™ Blues, 'Caradonna', 'May Night', 'New Dimension Rose', 'New Dimensions Blue', Pink Profusion, 'Swifty Violet Blue', 'Violet Profusion'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Balyriclu' Lyrical™ Blues
Dark burgandy buds violet blue flowers, compact - 'Caradonna'
Dark purple stems and blue-violet flowers - 'May Night'
Dark violet blue purple flowers in May-June - 'New Dimension Rose'
vivid rose pink flowers on upright 10-12" flower stalks. - 'New Dimensions Blue'
Dark blue flowers, 1-2 feet tall - Pink Profusion
- 'Swifty Violet Blue'
- 'Violet Profusion'
Good resistance to phytophthora and aerial blight.
- 'Balyriclu' Lyrical™ Blues
- 'Balyriclu' Lyrical™ Blues, 'Caradonna', 'May Night', 'New Dimension Rose', 'New Dimensions Blue', Pink Profusion, 'Swifty Violet Blue', 'Violet Profusion'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- nemorosa
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves have been used in Turkish medicine to stop bleeding by applying externally.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and west-central Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Some cultivars have shown good resistance to phytophthora and aerial blight.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarp has 4 chambers with 1 nutlet each
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Lavender to violet-blue flowers with reddish-purple bracts densely packed in whorls on racemes held above the leaves June to September in flushes.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-4 inch long green or gray-green leaves have a wrinkled appearance and toothed margins. Aromatic when crushed.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Square green stems
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Pollution
- Rabbits
