Horticulture/Salvia guaranitica

Anise Sage Salvia guaranitica HabitusLeavesFlowers BotGardBln0906.JPG Salvia guarnitica Herbaceous perennial Full sun to light shade Maintain adequate moisture to prevent wilting. Well-drained, deep soils 8-10, to zone 6 for some cultivars. rare rare Midsummer to freeze Aggressive spreader Insects, attracts hummingbirds Large tubers Edible Salvia guaranitica (Anise-scented sage or Hummingbird sage) is a species of sage native to South America, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. Description It is a perennial or subshrub growing 1-3 m tall. The leaves are ovate, 4-13 cm long, mint green, and anise-scented when crushed. The inflorescences are up to 25 cm long, with each flower 3-5 cm long in varying shades of blue, with a dark basal calyx 10-12 mm long. Flowering begins in mid-summer and continues through late autumn. Salvia guaranitica is only a perennial in USDA Zones 7 to 10, but can be perennial in cooler climates, if planted in sunny microclimate. Growing conditions Deep, well-drained soils with adequate irrigation during drought periods. Water needs are low. In colder climates, the plant should be sited against a building or masonry. Varieties Numerous cultivars have been selected, including: 'Argentine Skies' (pale blue flowers) 'Black and Blue' (very dark violet blue calyx) 'Blue Enigma' (green calyx and blue flowers 'Blue Ensign' (large blue flowers) 'Purple Splendor' (large purple flowers) Uses Salvia guaranitica is a popular ornamental plant in mild areas where the temperature does not fall below −12 °C. It is most often planted in order to attract hummingbirds. Maintenance Prune to the ground in early spring, before new stems grow. Can be sheared to encourage bushiness. Staking is sometimes necessary. Excellent container plant. Propagation Division or stem cuttings. In colder climates, it can be dug in early autumn and kept indoors either in a pot or in vermiculite for dormant storage. It's hardiness can be greatly extended if planted against a building or masonry to maintain higher winter soil temperatures. Pests and diseases See ../Salvia/ for a list of pests and diseases affecting the genus Salvia. References Christopher Brickell and Judith D. Zuk The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants 1997 DK Publishing 929 Staff of the L. H. Bailey Hortorium Hortus Third: A Concise Dictionary of Plants Cultivated in the United States and Canada 1976 Cornell University Press 999 A Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden, Betsy Clebsch, page 90-92 Species y y y y y y y y y y y y y