Nettle-Leaved Sage Salvia urticifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh ur-TISS-i-fo-lee-ah
- Description
-
Nettleleaf sage is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the southeastern United States, including parts of North Carolina. In its native environment, it is found along dry woodland edges, open woods and on outcroppings. The species epithet is a compound of the genus name for nettle (Urtica) and the Latin word for leaf (-folia).
Nettleleaf sage prefers dry soil with a high pH (neutral to alkaline but not acidic) and partial shade. Once established, nettleleaf sage is drought-tolerant.
Although difficult to find commercially, nettleleaf sage is easy to grow and bears small but attractive purple-to-blue flowers in April–June. The flowers attract pollinators. The leaves are fragrant when crushed and can be used in a potpourri. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication.
Use this plant in borders or groups in woodland gardens, children's gardens or native and pollinator gardens. It can also be grown in containers with good drainage.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- urticifolia
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- AL , DC , FL , GA , KY , MD , MS , NC , PA , SC , TN , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts pollinators. Dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The schizocarp has four lobes that separate to yield four single-seeded nutlets.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The sticky flowers are clustered in tiers on the erect inflorescence. The lower lip has 3 lobes which extend like a tongue and have prominent white marks. It blooms April, May and June.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are wedge-shaped at the base with entire margins. It tapers to wings and is coarsely toothed at the tip. It is 3 inches long and 2 inches wide.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The slippery hairy square stems rise from a thick rhizome and may be woody at the base.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Poor Soil
