Salvia clevelandii (fragrant sage)

Japanese name: クレベラントセージ
Scientific name: Salvia clevelandii

[Overview]
An evergreen subshrub 1–1.5 m in both height and spread.
It has a rounded form.
The stems are densely covered with fine white hairs.
The leaves are simple and opposite, lanceolate to obovate, 2–2.5 cm long, and grayish green; the surface is wrinkled with depressions along the veins, and the margins have small rounded teeth.
The leaves have a strong, sweet fragrance.
Several tiers of verticillasters are borne at intervals at the stem tips, forming a flower spike about 30 cm long overall.
The flowers are bluish purple and lipped, with the stamens and pistil projecting far out of the flower.

[Uses]
The leaves are used in potpourri and for medicinal purposes.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed, by division, or by cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, well-ventilated place.
With poor sunlight it can become leggy and weak.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil has dried; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient unless a sunny spell continues and the soil dries out.
It is hardy, but dislikes summer heat and humidity, and if the plant becomes stuffy the inner and lower leaves may die, so thin out crowded branches to improve air circulation.
To overwinter it outdoors, provide protection from the cold, such as spreading straw around the base of the plant.
It needs little fertilizer; for potted plants, apply a small amount of slow-release fertilizer in spring or autumn, watching how the plant responds.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)