Salvia guaranitica
Anise Sage | |
---|---|
Binomial: | Salvia guarnitica |
Type: | Herbaceous perennial |
Light requirements: | Full sun to light shade |
Water requirements: | Maintain adequate moisture to prevent wilting. |
Soil requirements: | Well-drained, deep soils |
USDA Hardiness Zone: | 8-10, to zone 6 for some cultivars. |
Pest issues: | rare |
Disease issues: | rare |
Bloom season: | Midsummer to freeze |
Weediness: | Aggressive spreader |
Pollination: | Insects, attracts hummingbirds |
Root: | Large tubers |
Toxicity and edibility: | Edible |
Salvia guaranitica (Anise-scented sage or Hummingbird sage) is a species of sage native to South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
Description
[edit | edit source]It is a perennial or subshrub growing 1-3 m tall. The leaves are ovate, 4-13 cm long, mint green, and anise-scented when crushed. The inflorescences are up to 25 cm long, with each flower 3-5 cm long in varying shades of blue, with a dark basal calyx 10-12 mm long. Flowering begins in mid summer and continues through late autumn.
Salvia guaranitica is only a perennial in USDA Zones 7 to 10, but can be perennial in cooler climates, if planted in sunny microclimate.
Growing conditions
[edit | edit source]Deep, well-drained soils with adequate irrigation during drought periods. Water needs are low. In colder climates, the plant should be sited against a building or masonry.
Varieties
[edit | edit source]Numerous cultivars have been selected, including:
- 'Argentine Skies' (pale blue flowers)
- 'Black and Blue' (very dark violet blue calyx)
- 'Blue Enigma' (green calyx and blue flowers
- 'Blue Ensign' (large blue flowers)
- 'Purple Splendor' (large purple flowers)
Uses
[edit | edit source]Salvia guaranitica is a popular ornamental plant in mild areas where the temperature does not fall below −12 °C. It is most often planted in order to attract hummingbirds.
Maintenance
[edit | edit source]Prune to the ground in early spring, before new stems grow. Can be sheared to encourage bushiness. Staking is sometimes necessary. Excellent container plant.
Propagation
[edit | edit source]Division or stem cuttings. In colder climates, it can be dug in early autumn and kept indoors either in a pot or in vermiculite for dormant storage. It's hardiness can be greatly extended if planted against a building or masonry to maintain higher winter soil temperatures.
Pests and diseases
[edit | edit source]See Salvia for a list of pests and diseases affecting the genus Salvia.
References
[edit | edit source]- Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk (1997). The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. DK Publishing. p. 929.
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(help) - Staff of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium (1976). Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press. p. 999.
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(help) - A Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden, Betsy Clebsch, page 90-92
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Types/Plants, Herbaceous
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Seasons/Summer
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Seasons/Fall
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Special/Weedy or Aggressive
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Lifetime/Perennial
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Conditions/Part Shade
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Conditions/Full Sun
- Book:Horticulture/Finder/Attractions/Hummingbirds