Salvia sinaloensis (Sinaloa sage)

Japanese name: サルビア シナロエンシス
Scientific name: Salvia sinaloensis

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial to subshrub 30–60 cm tall.
It spreads sideways by underground stems and grows densely, with a clump width about equal to its height.
The stems are tinged with purple and densely hairy.
The leaves are simple and opposite, lanceolate to oblong, with low, rounded teeth on the margin.
The leaves are tinged with purple and turn red in winter.
The leaves have a sweet fragrance.
The flowers are borne in verticillasters; they are deep blue and lipped, with two white linear markings on the lower lip.
The calyx is tinged with purple and remains for a long time after flowering.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division or cuttings.
It tolerates temperatures down to nearly -10°C, and even if the aboveground parts die back in winter, it sprouts again in spring as long as the roots do not freeze.
If freezing is a concern, cut back plants in the ground and protect them from the cold, for example by spreading straw around the base; bring potted plants indoors.
It prefers a fertile, well-drained site in sun to bright partial shade.
In poor light it may become leggy and weak, and flowering and autumn color are also poorer.
For potted plants, from spring to autumn water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and keep on the dry side in winter.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If basal fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly necessary, but for potted plants, slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil in spring and autumn is also fine.
It is hardy, but if the plant becomes stuffy in summer, the inner and lower leaves may die, so thin out crowded branches to improve ventilation.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)