Salvia x sylvestris
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh sil-VESS-triss
- Description
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Wood sage is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family. Plant in the full sun in dry to medium moisture soils with good drainage and high organic content. Plants will quickly fill in space if conditions are ideal. Prune plants back to their basal foliage after flowering or if they flop over or become unsightly. It is tolerant of gravely or sandy soils, drought once established, and deer browsing. Plant as an accent or mass plant in a border. It is right at home in a cottage, sensory, or butterfly garden.
Propagate this plant through softwood cuttings or division.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. White fly and scale occasionally occur. Leaf spot, powdery mildew, and rust may affect stressed plants.
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 landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- sylvestris
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- 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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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Deep violet-blue to purple tubular two-lipped 1/2" long flowers appear in clusters of 2-6 on terminal racemes in late spring and will rebloom through summer if moisture is available. Deadhead to encourage rebloom. Cut flowers last a long time.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Oblong to lanceolate serrate to entire margins medium green fragrant leaves. Wrinkled appearance with hairs beneath. Basal leaves have petioles while stem leaves are sessile.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Stems are square and can reach 30" in height
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
