Sage: Blue (Salvia farinacea)
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Sage Blue Salvia Farinacea grows as a sub-shrub perennial in warmer climates and as an annual where winter temperatures stay below freezing for more than a few hours at a time. Also commonly called Mealy Cup Sage, Salvia Farinacea features silver-green foliage with long, toothed leaves and produces multiple spikes of showy, about an inch long, bright blue flowers that are arranged in loose whorls along the upright stems. Mealy Cup Sage blooms over a long season starting in spring. The showy, fragrant Blue Sage flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
Scientific Name: Salvia farinacea
Also Known As: Mealycup Sage, Mealy Sage
Native Range: Texas, Mexico
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual/Perennial
Maturity (Bloom): May to frost
Hardiness: Half Hardy. Sage is a hardy plant and can take cold temperatures but does not do very well in extremely cold climates.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season: Long
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot. Sage originated in the Mediterranean and prefers mild winters and warm summers. It must have well drained soil in order to do well.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 45°F. Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Full sun to part shade: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot). This Mediterranean herb loves full sun, though in very hot climates it will also grow in partial shade.
Water: Medium. Sage is a very drought tolerant plant and is probably more often harmed by too much water, rather than too little. In very dry areas it will be more productive if watered occasionally.
Feeder: Light. Sage will grow in any well-drained soil, it doesn't need to be very fertile.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, High heat
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Sage is an excellent candidate for container growing. Choose a pot that is a minimum of 8" deep and 8" in diameter. Make sure that there is at least one drainage hole in your container. Fill with potting soil and fertilize with compost. Water thoroughly and place in a sunny location. Water again when the soil gets dry.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes
Maintenance: Low
Height: 24-36"
Sowing Depth: Just below the surface.
Spacing: 15-24"
Produces: Vivid blue flowers adorn the tall spikes and grayish green leaves
USDA Grow Zone: Annual: 3-7
Perennial: 8-10
Garden Uses: Beds, borders, meadows, cottage gardens, cutting gardens.
Also Known As: Mealycup Sage, Mealy Sage
Native Range: Texas, Mexico
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual/Perennial
Maturity (Bloom): May to frost
Hardiness: Half Hardy. Sage is a hardy plant and can take cold temperatures but does not do very well in extremely cold climates.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season: Long
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot. Sage originated in the Mediterranean and prefers mild winters and warm summers. It must have well drained soil in order to do well.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 90°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 45°F. Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Full sun to part shade: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot). This Mediterranean herb loves full sun, though in very hot climates it will also grow in partial shade.
Water: Medium. Sage is a very drought tolerant plant and is probably more often harmed by too much water, rather than too little. In very dry areas it will be more productive if watered occasionally.
Feeder: Light. Sage will grow in any well-drained soil, it doesn't need to be very fertile.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, High heat
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Sage is an excellent candidate for container growing. Choose a pot that is a minimum of 8" deep and 8" in diameter. Make sure that there is at least one drainage hole in your container. Fill with potting soil and fertilize with compost. Water thoroughly and place in a sunny location. Water again when the soil gets dry.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes
Maintenance: Low
Height: 24-36"
Sowing Depth: Just below the surface.
Spacing: 15-24"
Produces: Vivid blue flowers adorn the tall spikes and grayish green leaves
USDA Grow Zone: Annual: 3-7
Perennial: 8-10
Garden Uses: Beds, borders, meadows, cottage gardens, cutting gardens.
Soil Preparation
Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 5.6-7.8, Ideal 6.8. Sage will grow in any well-drained garden soil, but prefers a light, slightly alkaline soil. If the soil will not drain then grow it in a raised bed.
Soil pH: 5.6-7.8, Ideal 6.8. Sage will grow in any well-drained garden soil, but prefers a light, slightly alkaline soil. If the soil will not drain then grow it in a raised bed.
Start Indoors
Seed Sowing Depth: 0.25". Sow the seeds 1" apart and 1/4" deep, in well drained soil.
Soil temp for germination: 55°F to 85°F, optimal 65°F to 75°F, optimal 75°F
Total weeks to grow transplant: 10 to 14 (Spring/Summer), 10 to 14 (Fall/Winter)
Soil temp for germination: 55°F to 85°F, optimal 65°F to 75°F, optimal 75°F
Total weeks to grow transplant: 10 to 14 (Spring/Summer), 10 to 14 (Fall/Winter)
Transplant Outdoors
How and When:
When: Seedlings can be planted out 6 weeks after the last frost date, when the weather has warmed up to at least 60 to 65˚ F.
How: Dig a hole 4 to 6" deep (depending on the container size). Gently squeeze the sides of the container to release the soil. Remove the plant and soil from the container and place into hole. Surround with additional soil, but don't bury the base of the plant. Give a good watering.
Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot: Sage originated in the Mediterranean and prefers mild winters and warm summers. It must have well drained soil in order to do well.
When outdoor temp: 55°F to 90°F, optimal temp 65°F to 75°F.
When min soil temp: 45°F. Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
Spacing: 12-18", 1 plants per sq ft. Plant 12 to 18" apart. When mature plants get woody, you can separate the roots to thin the plant out and encourage new growth.
When: Seedlings can be planted out 6 weeks after the last frost date, when the weather has warmed up to at least 60 to 65˚ F.
How: Dig a hole 4 to 6" deep (depending on the container size). Gently squeeze the sides of the container to release the soil. Remove the plant and soil from the container and place into hole. Surround with additional soil, but don't bury the base of the plant. Give a good watering.
Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot: Sage originated in the Mediterranean and prefers mild winters and warm summers. It must have well drained soil in order to do well.
When outdoor temp: 55°F to 90°F, optimal temp 65°F to 75°F.
When min soil temp: 45°F. Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
Spacing: 12-18", 1 plants per sq ft. Plant 12 to 18" apart. When mature plants get woody, you can separate the roots to thin the plant out and encourage new growth.
Start Outdoors
When Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot: Sage originated in the Mediterranean and prefers mild winters and warm summers. It must have well drained soil in order to do well.
When outdoor temp: 55°F to 90°F, optimal temp 65°F to 75°F.
When min soil temp: 45°F. Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
Seed Depth: 1/4". Sow the seeds 1" apart and 1/4" deep, in well drained soil.
Spacing: 12-18", 1 plants per sq ft. Plant 12 to 18" apart. When mature plants get woody, you can separate the roots to thin the plant out and encourage new growth.
When outdoor temp: 55°F to 90°F, optimal temp 65°F to 75°F.
When min soil temp: 45°F. Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
Seed Depth: 1/4". Sow the seeds 1" apart and 1/4" deep, in well drained soil.
Spacing: 12-18", 1 plants per sq ft. Plant 12 to 18" apart. When mature plants get woody, you can separate the roots to thin the plant out and encourage new growth.
Crop Care After First year
After an extended period of flowering, you may wish to prune it halfway back to produce thicker, more compact foliage and a shorter flowering plant. Pruning may delay flowering for several weeks, but it is important in preventing leggy plants.
Collect the seeds as the capsules begin to dry but before they have dropped the seeds. Spread seeds in thin layers to dry a few days before storing in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Viability in Years: 3 - 5 years
Seed Viability in Years: 3 - 5 years