PlantFiles: Mealy Cup Sage
Salvia farinacea

This plant can be found growing natively in Connecticutt,, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas. It does best in full sun; however, the drier it is, the more shade the plant can handle. When new basal foliage appears, cut the old flower stems to keep the plants lush. Also, shearing the plant 2 or 3 times a growing season keeps it full and encorages flowering. After the first frost browns the leaves or in mid-winter, prune to 3" from the ground. Butterflies and hummingbirds love the nectar and deer avoid the plant. If the soil is kept too wet, it will become leggy and weak. A cold, moist stratification period is required for germination. This salvia species requires light in order to germinate. It can be propagated by cuttings.

I grow this in full sun and live in a californian type climate (no rain in summer but i use a watering system). Has any one else experienced brittle woody bits of the plant, lowest down? By deadheading it, i have gotten it to flower from mid spring to autumn and it hasn't finished yet.

I was worried i would lose the plant when the heatwaves struck (four days in a row of 40+ degrees celcius - but it hung in there.

My garden is on a slope, so the plant definately gets well drained.

This plant readily self-sows, but usually also survives southwest Missouri winters (in my garden at least). Goldfinches relish the seeds. Their bright yellow plumage contrasted against the blue blossoms is a very beautiful sight!

6-8" upright spikes of china blue flowers above compact bushy plant. Unreliable perennial except for in well drained sites. Grown normally as an annual in Texas.

Tender perennial grown as an annual in colder climates. One of the showiest salvias for full sun locations; foliage is gray-green topped with vivid blue spikes of flowers most of the summer and fall. Flowers somewhat resemble lavender, and work well in cottage garden borders. Flowers will be more vivid in areas with cooler summers.