One of my favorite topics on the site is spicy aromatic plants from the Labiatae/Lamiaceae family.
Their world is very beautiful, fragrant and diverse! It is not limited to traditional species and classic sage smells. With the General dominance of purple, which goes well with the light colors of roses, peonies, sage appeared bright red, bright blue flowers of exotic shapes.
Thanks to the rich range of species and varieties of sage have become popular European plants.
The framework of sage aromas was expanded, among which there were notes of anise, mint, Muscat, lavender, melon, pineapple, mango, black currant and others.
Extremely interesting thermophilic sage from Mexico, which can be grown in the middle lane and as annuals, and container culture.
With age, sage become more resistant to frost.
In a Sunny spot with fertile, friable soil sages grow and bloom perfectly for up to 8 years (without change).
Our gardeners sage potential is still not fully disclosed, and therefore not used. And today I am very happy to tell you about such different, but always beautiful sage.
Salvia guaranitica
Salvia guaranitica, syn. S. concolor is a perennial plant, one of the most beautiful blue sages. Its popularity is growing rapidly today.
He comes from Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina. Height up to 1.5 m and a width of 60 cm In the South it is not so high: only 50-60 cm In a foreign land and the leaves do not reach its characteristic 13 cm, but they are the same textured, wrinkled, with the aroma of anise (when rubbed). The flowers are blue, with almost black cups, up to 5 cm; bloom in August.
In the English reference literature, its winter temperature minimum at 0ºC. Therefore, in the middle lane should be grown in wide containers and garden vases or as an annuals (through seedlings). Sowing seeds surface, after stratification for 2-3 months; at a temperature of +18…+24 º C seedlings appear within 1-3 months.
Decorative varieties:
- ‘Black and Blue’ – up to 2.5 m, 90 cm wide; blue flowers, with dark purple cups;
- ‘Blue Enigma’ – 90 cm wide, fragrant, blue flowers with a bright green Cup;
- ‘Purple Splendour’ – width 90 cm, pubescent leaves, purple flowers.
Use in the country
Salvia guaranitica is a luxurious and handsome, creating a cold range in the flower beds.
He never gets lost: blue flowers always attract attention with its exotic shape.
Salvia nemorosa
Salvia nemorosa – erect little-branched perennial up to 1 m and a width of 60 cm.
Leaves from oval to lanceolate, up to 10 cm; flowers purple, purple, white, pink, 1 cm long, collected in the apical brush; bloom from summer to autumn.
Decorative varieties:
- ‘Ostfriesland’ – height 45 cm, dark blue-purple flowers;
- ‘Lubecca’ – dwarf, height and width 45 cm, leaves gray-green, purple flowers;
- This is a series of varieties: ‘New Dimension Blue’, ‘New Dimension Rose’, ‘New Dimension Pink’ – flowers blue, light pink and dark pink colors;
- ‘Schneehugel’ – white flowers;
- ‘Viola Klose’ – bright blue flowers.
Use in the country
Salvia nemorosa more and more captivate the hearts of summer residents, settling in areas for many years.
They are incomparable in a variety of floral arrangements, which make harmonious contrasts or complement the flower garden nuanced combinations.
Salvia glutinosa
Homeland Salvia glutinosa consider Central and southern Europe, Western Asia. This yellow sage some of you may have seen in nature, in a shady forest.
This is a great contender in the flower beds of lovers of large sage (he height and width up to 90 cm), prefers semi-shaded wet places with fertile loose soil. Find him on the site a secluded place by the fence, and your friends will certainly be surprised by its flowering, because sage with yellow flowers in our cottages are still rare guests.
Salvia lavandulifolia
Salvia lavandulifolia, syn. S. hispanica is originally from Spain. It might seem that lavender is difficult to find a double, but no: look at another long-term sage – from afar it from lavender and can not be distinguished!
He’s cold. English reference literature he is given the standard winter low of -15ºC; the sources of domestic – to-23 ° C. So, you can try to grow it outdoors in the middle lane (the first years after planting will require shelter for the winter period).
Salvia officinalis
He has already settled in the cottages of many users of our site, which are particularly fond of varieties ‘Icterina’, ‘Tricolor’, ‘Aurea’, ‘Kew Gold’.
But the red-leaved Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’ we somehow completely forgot.
It seems to be specially created for contrasting compositions. Especially the bright purple color difference between the young leaves.
Salvia x sylvestris
Salvia x sylvestris is a hybrid of S. nemorosa x S. pratensis with pinkish-purple flowers.
It is light-loving and drought-resistant. Very winter-hardy: carries up to-29ºC, so suitable for cultivation in the middle lane.
Decorative varieties:
- ‘Blauhugel’ – height 70 cm, width 45 cm, blue-purple flowers;
- ‘Rose Queen’ – height 75 cm, deep pink flowers;
- ‘Blue Hill’ – dark blue flowers;
- ‘May Night’ – height 70 cm, width 40 cm; the flowers are pale purple and others.
Salvia pratensis
Salvia pratensis is up to 90 cm high and up to 30 cm wide, with violet-blue flowers you could see in pine forests. Very cold-resistant: can withstand -40ºC.
In culture, the most interesting are its cultivars:
- ‘Haematodes Group’ – blue flowers;
- ‘Mittsommer’ – blue flowers.
Salvia microphylla
Salvia microphylla – evergreen shrub height of 90-120 cm and a width of 60-100 cm luxury sage from Mexico is extremely beautiful!
It blooms in late summer.
Winter minimum -5ºC, so in the middle lane it is better to grow in containers, high garden vases, and in the South to give him the warmest and sunniest places.
Salvia coccinea
Salvia coccinea from tropical South America is very elegant! I’m fascinated.
The height is 60-75 cm, width up to 30 cm Flowers are red.
Decorative varieties
- ‘Coral Nymph’ – coral pink flowers;
- ‘Lady in Red’ – red flowers;
- ‘Snow Nymph’ – white flowers;
- ‘Summer Jewel Pink’ – white-pink flowers and others.
Winter minimum 0ºC, so in the middle lane it should be grown as a container perennial.
In addition, in the sale you can buy the seeds of the perennial sages, as:
- Salvia sclarea;
- S. x superba;
- S. verticillata;
- S. farinacea;
- S. argentea and others.
Well, any of the beautiful sage already managed to charm you?