Salvia farinacea Blue sage

S. Europe; 1m x 45cm
Planting position: Full sun. Planting spot protected from hot humidity.
Requires thorough, regular watering. Well-draining, organically-enriched soil. Spring application of complete fertiliser. Watch out for snails, aphids and slugs.
Propagate from autumn-sown seed, spring semi-hardwood cuttings, or root division.

This summer-flowering, perennial plant has greyish-green foliage and its flowers are velvety and blue, borne on tall spikes.
S. horminum (65 x 35cm) is an annual with oval foliage, insignificant flowers and clusters of coloured bracts. These bracts’ colours range from red, blue, purple and white.
S. officinalis (65 x 45cm) is a commonly known herb and has evergreen, grey-green leaves and blue summer flowers.
It has astringent, disinfectant and tonic properties, relieving fevers and stimulatiing digestion.