Perennials – Salvia

• Salvia 

Botanical name: salvia officinalis

Beginner friendly?: yes

Average size at maturity:  1 – 2 ft in height and in width 

Bloom time:  late spring, summer, fall

Hardy zone: zones 4-10

Flower color: white, blue, purple, violet, pink

Foliage color: green/gray

Growth rate:  reaches maturity in about 75 days 

Pruning instructions:  prune in late winter 

Propagation methods: cut a stem just below a node and place in water until roots start to emerge

Landscape use: good as a border, for containers, as accent plants, and for cutting flowers for a vase 

Light needs: at least 6 hours of sun a day

Special features: cold hardy and drought tolerant 

Watering instructions:  about an inch of water every week

Fertilizing instructions : feed with a 50/50 mixture of compost and native soil

Best time to plant: spring or fall

Best type of soil: adapts to all kinds of soil 

Companion plants: coreopsis, verbena, catmint

Toxicity level: non-toxic for humans and pets

Invasive species: no