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Sage in Latin is called Salvia, and this is the name under which the decorative variety of this plant is known in Russia. Salvias appeared in Europe several centuries ago; they belong to the Lamiaceae family and exist in nature as perennials. To avoid confusion, it is customary to divide plants of this species into two groups and call only medicinal species sage, and ornamental species salvia. Growing perennial salvia in a temperate climate has its own characteristics, because this plant is of tropical origin. Despite the plant’s increased love for warmth and sun, hundreds of species of cultivated sage can exist without problems in flower beds and flower beds of the northern country.
Photos of perennial salvia flowers and a description of popular varieties can be found in this article. Here we will talk about the seedlings of this plant and when and how they need to be planted, how to care for flowers, and what to do with salvia in winter.
Description of the species
Medicinal sage has been known since the times of Ancient Rome.There are many varieties of this plant, each of which has its own medicinal properties and is actively used in medicine.
Decorative salvia has larger inflorescences, the colors of the flowers are brighter and more varied, which is why it is customary to decorate personal plots, parks and gardens with these varieties.
As a species, Salvia and Salvia officinalis have many similar qualities:
- plant type – spongy, rhizomatous, herbaceous;
- the stem of salvia is erect, ascending, and has a tetrahedral cross-section;
- the height of the stems, depending on the type of sage, can vary from 20 cm to 1.5 meters;
- leaves are elongated, whole, arranged in pairs - opposite;
- the upper part of the leaf blade is green, and the lower part has a whitish color;
- the root system is tap-type, powerful, with many thin lateral roots;
- individual flowers are small, but collected in large spike-shaped inflorescences;
- the length of the inflorescence usually exceeds 20 cm and can reach 50 cm;
- each spikelet of the inflorescence contains up to 90 single flowers;
- the traditional color of salvia is red, but selection does not stand still, and today there are decorative sage in pink, purple, orange and lilac shades;
- The plant is heat-loving, all types of salvia do not tolerate frost;
- sage is unpretentious and does not require complex care;
- the flower loves the sun and loose nutritious soil.
Perennial ornamental sage
In nature, sage grows on all continents of the Earth, except Australia, but this plant is native to the subtropics and tropics.
Depending on the climate in which salvia was “born”, it is customary to divide all its varieties into three large groups:
- Subtropical view, accustomed to warmth and sun, therefore categorically intolerant of frost and low temperatures. Subtropical salvia in Russia can only be grown as an annual.
- Mediterranean sage is more resistant to cold and vagaries of weather, but it also cannot tolerate sub-zero temperatures. In temperate climates, this salvia can be grown as a biennial plant, but for the winter the flowers should be covered or kept warm.
- Salvia perennial – the most cold-resistant type. In regions with snowy or mild winters, the flower does not even need to be covered. Sage will delight you with its bright flowers for several seasons, and will begin to bloom in the second year after planting.
Salvia officinalis
This group includes meadow and forest varieties of sage that have medicinal or spicy properties. Such flowers usually grow to a maximum height of 70 cm. Flowers are not afraid of cold and shade.
Not all types of medicinal sage are decorative, but the most beautiful of them are considered:
- variety Nectar, growing up to a meter in height, having pubescent leaves and large inflorescences of a purple or heavenly hue;
- at Semko Patriarchal long pointed leaves, and the maximum height of the bushes is 0.7 meters;
- Breeze more compact - only 60 cm in height, has leaves with a serrated edge and inflorescences of an azure hue;
- Aibolit pleases with the huge size of the bush - up to 120 cm, has large wrinkled leaves and bright flowers;
- Blue Queen belongs to the forest species, its inflorescences are colored blue (there is a variety called the Pink Queen, respectively, with pink inflorescences);
- Plumosa It is considered an oak sage, and this species is very resistant to cold, the flowers are colored in a rich lavender shade;
- Alba It belongs to the whorled species of Salvia officinalis; it blooms white.
Each of the varieties of medicinal sage is not only beautiful in appearance, but also has its own medicinal properties: one type is able to stop bleeding, another relieves inflammation or pain, a decoction of the third has a beneficial effect on internal organs. There are also spicy types of sage used in cooking and various drinks.
Mediterranean group
Perennial salvias, native to the Mediterranean, tolerate cold well, can grow in the driest regions, and require virtually no care. But this variety of decorative sage cannot withstand the harsh Russian winters. That's why in temperate climates, Mediterranean varieties are most often grown as biennials - the flowers are securely covered or moved indoors for the winter.
Horminum - green or variegated variety
Salvia Horminum is an ornamental variety with colorful subflowers and whorled inflorescences of various shades. The height of the flower is 40-60 cm, its bush is spreading, well-leafed, and dense.
The stems of Horminum are spicy and covered with a small fluff. The leaves are elongated, oval, pubescent. The inflorescence is a false whorl consisting of 4-6 pink flowers. The bracts look more vibrant and can have different colors: from pink and hot pink to deep purple.
Popular varieties of perennial Mediterranean salvia:
- White Swan, having bracts of purple or pink color;
- Oxford Blue with unusual blue flowers;
- Pink Sunday – salvia with bright pink bracts.
Salvia Verticillata
Whorled salvia has straight stems that grow up to 30-40 cm. The leaves have long petioles, they, like the stems, are densely pubescent. The inflorescences are collected in dense whorled spikelets, each of which contains from five to thirty flowers.
The color of the inflorescences of whorled salvia is usually purple or lilac-blue. ==The most popular variety is the Purple Rain variety, which has purple petioles and bright purple corollas.==
Dandelion leaf sage
The stem of this species is straight and poorly branched. The plant is herbaceous, all its parts exude a strong spicy aroma. The leaves are pinnate, strongly dissected, collected in root rosettes. The lower part of the leaf is pubescent; the outside surface of the leaf blade is glossy.
The inflorescences are whorled, reaching 30 cm. The corollas of the flowers are light pink, the throat is greenish with purple specks.
Perennial varieties
The third group includes the most persistent salvia varieties, which even in Russia can be grown as perennials. These flowers are not afraid of frost, can winter without shelter (provided that the winter is snowy), grow well in shade and partial shade, and are undemanding in care.
Sage ferruginous or sticky
This flower grows everywhere in Russia, as it is probably the most adapted to the climate of this country. The height of the bushes can reach 90 cm, the stems are pubescent and glandular.
The leaf shape is ovate-triangular, the leaves are colored yellowish-green, have jagged edges and are covered with fluff. Salvia inflorescences are loose, have a yellowish tint and a whorl shape.
Lush sage
Salvia Superba more commonly called lush salvia. This flower grows to a maximum of sixty centimeters, has inflorescences collected in spikelets and painted in a rich lavender color.
Popular varieties of lush salvia:
- Snow Hill – perennial salvia with large snow-white inflorescences;
- Blue Queen pleases with compact low bushes and very bright blue-violet flowers;
- Rose Queen - also a “dwarf”, very compact, with pink flowers.
The third, persistent type of perennials also includes meadow salvia and Ethiopian salvia, but they are less commonly grown in the country.
Flower propagation
Perennial varieties of salvia can be propagated by seeds, seedlings, cuttings and layering. The seeds are the fruit of sage flowering and are in boxes from which they fall very easily to the ground. At the end of winter, seedlings begin to grow; sage seeds are not planted due to the long growing season.
Until the end of summer, salvia can be propagated by semi-lignified cuttings. The cuttings should be cut at a height of about 15 cm and placed in water or loose nutrient soil. After two weeks, roots should appear; after another 10-15 days, salvia can be planted in a permanent place.
Air layering is also an excellent method of propagation.They are simply pinned to the ground and next year the rooted bush is separated from the mother plant.
Growing and care
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in February, because at least two months must have passed by the time they are transplanted into the ground. Salvia seedlings are very weak, so all work with them is carried out with great care.
It is much easier to propagate flowers by cuttings or layering. Heat-loving sage is transferred to the soil to a permanent place no earlier than May - the weather should stabilize and the earth should warm up.
It’s easy to care for salvia; it needs:
- watering with warm water;
- loosening the soil or mulching;
- formative pruning (applies to perennial species);
- fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers.
Conclusion
The photo of a bright salvia does not leave you indifferent - you immediately want to have such a miracle in your own garden. When choosing a sage variety, it is worth taking into account the climate in a particular region. Perennial varieties of salvia, which can withstand even frosts, performed best in the middle zone.
