blue sage

Plant Type

Herbaceous Wildflower

Life Cycle

Perennial

Typical Size

5 ft. tall
4 ft. wide

Tolerant of

Deer, Drought, Occasional Flooding

Propagation

By seed, By cutting, By division

Plant Propagation Notes

Readily self-seeds. Does not require cold straficiation.

Plant Planting Notes

2 foot spacing

Wildlife Benefits

Nectar/pollen source for pollinating insects, Host plant for butterfly larvae, Nectar source for hummingbirds, Supports numerous caterpillars (bird food)

Leaves

Greyish-green. simple, opposite arrangement. Lanceolate shape

Flowers

Whorled around stem. 1 inch flowers

Fruit

Nulet, 1 inch in length

USDA Hardiness Zones

5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Light Exposure

Full Sun, Part Sun/Shade

Soil Moisture

Dry, Medium, Moist

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Acidic (less than 6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Native in South Carolina?

Yes

Plant Native Habitat

Moist savannahs, open prairies

Global Conservation Status (NatureServe)

Apparently Secure (G4)

Federal Conservation Status (USFWS)

Not Listed

Distribution Notes

Common in the coastal plain. Uncommon in the piedmont. Absent from the mountains.

Subspecies

Salvia azurea var. azurea, Salvia azurea var. grandiflora