Meadow Sage Salvia × superba
ABOUT
Salvia × superba, commonly known as Meadow Sage, is an ornamental plant known for its vibrant flowers and textured foliage. The plant typically presents a lush, mounding habit. Its leaves are lance-shaped with a wrinkled appearance and a fine, slightly rough hair covering them, providing a tactile experience reminiscent of soft bristle. These leaves are often a rich green, creating a dense backdrop for the blossoms. The flowers of Meadow Sage demand attention with their striking color. They tend to be a vivid blue or purple, creating a bold contrast against their verdant leaves. These flowers are arranged in dense, cylindrical clusters known as inflorescences. Each individual flower is small and tube-like, encompassing a charm that can be appreciated up-close as well as from a distance, as together they form spiky, elongated structures that tower confidently above the foliage. The blooming period of this plant places a visual exclamation point in gardens, as the inflorescences emerge and bring with them a parade of pollinators like bees and butterflies. Meadow Sage's presence in a garden is marked by its vibrant flowers, which can be a source of prolonged color, as they often last through the warmest months of the year.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Lamiaceae.
Synonyms
Meadow Sage, Superb Sage, Perennial Sage.
Common names
Salvia nemorosa L.
ToxicityTo humans
Meadow sage is not commonly known to be toxic to humans. However, as with any plant material, individual allergies and sensitivities can occur. If ingested in large amounts, it could potentially cause stomach upset or gastrointestinal discomfort. Always exercise caution and consult medical professionals if ingestion occurs and adverse reactions are experienced.
To pets
Meadow sage is not typically toxic to pets such as cats and dogs. In general, ingestion of this plant should not cause significant problems. However, pets with specific sensitivities may exhibit mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea, if they consume large quantities of the plant. If any concerning symptoms are observed after ingestion, seeking veterinary advice is recommended.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Blue
Height
1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 meters)
Spread
1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
5-9
Native area
Cultivar
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts Pollinators: Salvia × superba is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, which can help pollinate your garden.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, this plant is quite drought-tolerant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and low-water garden designs.
- Easy Maintenance: This salvia is relatively low-maintenance, requiring minimal care once it has settled into its environment.
- Long Blooming Season: It typically has a long flowering season, adding color to gardens throughout the summer months.
- Deer Resistance: The plant is generally resistant to deer, which can help to prevent damage in areas where deer browsing is a problem.
- Erosion Control: Its root system can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion.
- Ornamental Value: With its showy flowers and attractive foliage, Salvia × superba is commonly used for ornamental purposes in gardens and landscapes.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Dye Production: The Salvia × superba plant can be used to produce natural dyes for coloring textiles, with various parts of the plant yielding different hues.
- Garden Border: With its striking spikes of flowers, this plant is commonly used to create visually appealing borders in gardens and landscaping projects.
- Companion Planting: Salvia × superba can be planted alongside vegetables to help deter certain pests that are attracted to vegetable gardens.
- Erosion Control: Its root system helps to stabilize soil, making it a good candidate for planting in areas prone to soil erosion.
- Wildlife Attraction: The flowers of Salvia × superba are known to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, thereby supporting biodiversity.
- Floral Arrangements: Fresh or dried, the vibrant blooms are used in floral arrangements and bouquets, adding a splash of color to any decor.
- Aromatic Sachets: Dried flowers and leaves may be used in sachets to impart fragrance to drawers and closets.
- Botanical Illustration and Photography: As an attractive plant, it is often used as a subject in botanical illustration and photography, for its aesthetic appeal.
- Culinary Garnish: Although not widely known for culinary use, the flowers can be used in small quantities as an edible garnish on salads and desserts.
- Education and Research: Salvia × superba can be used in educational settings such as botany and horticulture classes for plant identification and study.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Meadow Sage is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Meadow Sage is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Healing: Salvia, also known as sage, commonly symbolizes healing due to its extensive use in medicine and healing practices throughout history.
- Wisdom: The word 'sage' is synonymous with wisdom. The plant is often associated with the acquisition of wisdom and knowledge.
- Longevity: Sage represents longevity, likely due to its hardy nature and the belief that it promotes a long life.
- Protection: In various cultures, sage is believed to have the ability to ward off evil and is often used in cleansing rituals.
- Purity: The purifying properties ascribed to sage make it symbolize purification, cleansing one's self from the metaphysical impurities.
- Immortality: The evergreen nature of some sage plants and their resistance to many elements can reflect the idea of immortality in symbolism.
WaterMeadow Sage should be watered deeply once or twice a week, depending on the soil moisture and weather conditions. The top inch of soil should dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. When watering, apply approximately one gallon of water per plant, ensuring it reaches the root zone. In hot, dry periods, increase watering frequency to maintain consistent soil moisture. During the winter or in cooler climates, reduce watering to match lower evaporation and plant uptake rates.
LightMeadow Sage thrives in full sun conditions, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to perform its best. An ideal spot would be in an open garden area with unobstructed access to sunlight throughout the day. Partial shade can be tolerated but may result in leggier plants and fewer blooms.
TemperatureMeadow Sage prefers a temperature range between 60 and 70 Fahrenheit but can survive in temperatures as low as 20 Fahrenheit and as high as 85 Fahrenheit. Ideal conditions are warm days and cool nights. To ensure vigorous growth, it's important to avoid locations where temperatures may drop below 20 Fahrenheit for extended periods.
PruningPruning Meadow Sage is essential to promote bushier growth, more flowers, and maintain plant health. Prune back in early spring to remove any dead or damaged growth and encourage new shoots. Additionally, after the first flush of blooms fades, cut the plant back by one-third to stimulate a second bloom period. The best time for major pruning is late winter or early spring, just before new growth starts.
CleaningAs needed
SoilMeadow Sage thrives best in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter, such as compost or peat moss, with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. An ideal soil mix for Meadow Sage (Salvia × superba) would be one part garden soil, one part compost, and one part coarse sand or perlite to ensure proper drainage.
RepottingMeadow Sage does not need frequent repotting and can be typically repotted once every 2 to 3 years. Ensure that the new pot is only slightly larger than the previous one, as too much space can encourage more foliage than flowers.
Humidity & MistingMeadow Sage performs well under average humidity conditions and does not require any special humidity adjustments. This plant is tolerant of drier air, making it suitable for typical outdoor conditions.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place under bright light, avoid overwatering, ensure good airflow.
Outdoor
Full sun location, well-drained soil, regular deadheading.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
Life cycleSalvia × superba, commonly known as Meadow Sage, begins its life cycle as a seed, which upon germination in early spring, sends forth small shoots and roots. The plant develops into a rosette of foliage at the ground level, which is a collection of lanceolate leaves that are often hairy and aromatic. As the plant matures during late spring to early summer, it sends up sturdy, upright flowering stalks that can range in height and are adorned with spiky inflorescences of purple, blue, or violet flowers. The flowers are rich in nectar and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which aid in the plant's reproduction by moving pollen from one flower to another, resulting in fertilization. After pollination, the flowers fade and seed capsules form, which eventually dry and release seeds, completing the plant's reproductive cycle. Meadow Sage can persist through its perennial root system, going dormant in winter, and resprouting from the base in the subsequent growing season.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to early summer
The favored method for propagating Perennial Sage (Salvia × superba) is by division, typically carried out in the spring or fall. To divide the plant, you should first dig up an established clump and gently separate it into smaller sections, each with their own set of roots and shoots. You can use a sharp spade or knife to cautiously cut through the root ball if the clump is particularly tough. Once you have your divisions, replant them immediately at the same depth they were previously growing, spacing them about 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 centimeters) apart to allow for growth and air circulation. Water the new plants thoroughly to help establish them, and mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
