Wood Sage Salvia x sylvestris
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Salvia × degenii
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh sil-VESS-triss
- Description
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Wood sage is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to Europe. Wood sage is a natural hybrid between woodland sage (S. nemorosa) and meadow sage (S. pratensis). It is not always possible to determine whether modern cultivars are derived from the hybrid or unhybridized woodland sage.
Plant wood sage in full sun in dry to medium moisture soils with good drainage and high organic content. It is tolerant of gravely or sandy soils and drought once established. This plant has a rapid growth rate and will quickly fill a space if conditions are ideal. It may grow as large as 2 feet high and 1.5 feet wide. Prune it back to its basal foliage after flowering, or if it flops over or becomes unsightly. Propagate this plant through softwood cuttings or division.
Use wood sage as an accent or mass planting in a border. It is also at home in a cottage, sensory, or butterfly garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Whitefly, aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites are insect problems. Rust, powdery mildew, stem rot, and fungal leaf spot are disease problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blauhügel' also known as 'Blue Hill'
Blue flowers. - 'Blue by You'
All-American Selection winner | Heat tolerant & early flowering - 'Little Night'
a dwarf version of 'Mainacht' - 'Mainacht' also known as 'May Night'
Erect spikes of violet flowers. - 'Merleau'
Blue flowers - 'Rose Queen'
rosy pink flowers. - Sallyrosa™ April Night 'DSALRS203'
Like 'Mainacht' but blooming up to a month earlier. - 'Schneehügel' also known as 'Snow Hill'
White flowers.
- 'Blauhügel' also known as 'Blue Hill'
- 'Blauhügel' also known as 'Blue Hill', 'Blue by You', 'Little Night', 'Mainacht' also known as 'May Night', 'Merleau', 'Rose Queen', Sallyrosa™ April Night 'DSALRS203', 'Schneehügel' also known as 'Snow Hill'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blauhügel' also known as 'Blue Hill'
Blue flowers. - 'Blue by You'
All-American Selection winner | Heat tolerant & early flowering - 'Little Night'
a dwarf version of 'Mainacht' - 'Mainacht' also known as 'May Night'
Erect spikes of violet flowers. - 'Merleau'
Blue flowers - 'Rose Queen'
rosy pink flowers. - Sallyrosa™ April Night 'DSALRS203'
Like 'Mainacht' but blooming up to a month earlier. - 'Schneehügel' also known as 'Snow Hill'
White flowers.
- 'Blauhügel' also known as 'Blue Hill'
- 'Blauhügel' also known as 'Blue Hill', 'Blue by You', 'Little Night', 'Mainacht' also known as 'May Night', 'Merleau', 'Rose Queen', Sallyrosa™ April Night 'DSALRS203', 'Schneehügel' also known as 'Snow Hill'
- 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 bees, 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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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarp with four lobes that separate at maturity to yield four single-seeded nutlets.
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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 Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Deep violet-blue to purple tubular two-lipped 0.5 inches long flowers appear in clusters of 2 to 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
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate 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 Location:
- Container
- Meadow
- Patio
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
