![]() White Sage is also a terrific culinary herb and though not used as commonly as its cousin, Garden Sage, it shares a similar, savory taste. Made into an incense or cleansing stick, White Sage's aromatic smoke is thought to purify areas, objects and people of evil spirits and negative energy. Though its use in ceremonies dates back to the ancient Babylonians, White Sage is still an important ceremonial herb among Native Americans who use it for healing, cleansing and purification rituals. It is a desert native, so it will not like humidity. Remember, success with this plant requires: lots of heat, light and well draining soil. This tough plant blooms for over a month in late April to June, and leaves can be harvested in summer or fall when the white-leaved rosettes are at their prime. Place plants outside again in late spring as temperatures warm.Also known as ‘ Bee Sage’ for its attractiveness to bees and other pollinators, White Sage is an evergreen perennial shrub native to both the Southwest United States and Northwest Mexico. Barely water through winter-just a dribble once a month to keep roots alive. Store plants in a cool, bright location for winter. You can wait to let a killing frost zap stems, or cut them before frost, although if the plant is blooming, you won’t want to trim stems. Prune plants in late fall before bringing pots indoors for overwintering. In cold climates, try growing Salvia greggii in containers. This results in a flush of new stems that will flower in fall. Make a second pruning in August, cutting plants back by half. New growth will emerge in spring from stems and soil. ![]() Cut plants back to 4 inches high in late winter. Many gardeners keep autumn sage from becoming a sprawling tangle by pruning twice each year. Plants can grow up to 4 feet high with a spread up to 2 feet. Salvia greggii grows to varying sizes, depending on where it’s growing and how it’s pruned. The plants have a strong vase shape, with branches emerging from the base of the plant. Autumn sage is also a good addition to a butterfly garden. Hummingbirds mob this plant, especially the red-flowered types. Salvia greggii usually opens blossoms in shades of red, although varieties exist that have flowers in pink, purple, white and orange. Strongest flowering occurs in spring and fall, with more sporadic blooms during the heat of summer. Blooms appear on this plant in spring, summer and fall. This perennial is deer-resistant, thanks to the smelly leaves.ĭespite its common name of autumn sage, this is a perennial that boasts a long flower season. The aromatic qualities are in keeping with plants in the sage family. The narrow shape and leathery texture are adaptations to a desert environment, helping to reduce water loss from leaves. Leaves on Salvia greggii are narrow, leathery and aromatic. Give Salvia greggii a full sun location except in hottest regions, where a little afternoon shade is beneficial to plants. Too much fertilizer can actually kill this perennial. Plants grow well in alkaline soils, as well as rocky soils. Like many sages, Salvia greggii prefers a lean, sharply draining soil. This sage plant tolerates heat and humidity, too. It’s important not to plant Salvia greggii where it receives regular water from an automated irrigation system. Once established, the plants survive on little water and make great additions to xeriscape or low water-use landscapes. Salvia greggii is native to Southwest Texas and into the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico. This perennial is hardy in Zones 7 to 9, although some varieties like ‘Wild Thing’ boast hardiness to Zone 6. ![]() Known botanically as Salvia greggii, autumn sage goes by several common names among gardeners, including cherry sage, Gregg’s sage and Texas sage. Give your garden a splash of color courtesy of a drought-tolerant beauty: autumn sage. ![]()
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