Joan Sage Salvia 'Joan'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Salvia 'Joan' is a striking plant that displays vibrant flowers. The blooms emerge in a shade that can best be described as a deep blue to purple, often creating a stunning contrast with the surrounding foliage. These flowers are commonly arranged in spikes, giving them a vertical accent that is dense and eye-catching. The leaves of the Salvia 'Joan' are typically green, providing a lush backdrop for the bright flowers. These leaves can vary in shape but often have a somewhat ovate or lance-shaped appearance with a textured or slightly wrinkled surface. In its entirety, the plant can create a bushy and full appearance, with its stems and foliage creating a rounded and abundant look that makes it a favorite among gardeners looking for plants that provide a mass of color and texture. Its overall hardiness and vibrant appearance make Salvia 'Joan' a popular choice for garden borders, ornamental planting schemes, and as a standout specimen in a perennial bed, where its showy blooms can be appreciated throughout its blooming season.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Joan Sage, Joan Salvia
- Common names
  Salvia 'Joan'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Salvia 'Joan', more commonly known as Sage, is generally considered non-toxic to humans when ingested in typical culinary amounts. However, consuming large quantities of sage could lead to symptoms such as dizziness, vomiting, and abdominal pain due to the presence of compounds like thujone. It is advisable to use sage sparingly in cooking and to consult with a healthcare provider if large amounts are consumed.
- To pets
  Sage, the common name for Salvia 'Joan', is also generally considered non-toxic to pets. However, similar to the effects in humans, ingestion of large amounts can cause mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. If your pet consumes a significant amount of sage and displays adverse symptoms, it is important to contact your veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Semi-deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Purple
- Height
  2 feet [0.61 meters]
- Spread
  2 feet [0.61 meters]
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  Varies
- Native area
  Mexico

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Provides a food source for bees and butterflies, aiding in pollination of gardens.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it requires less water, making it suitable for xeriscaping and water-wise gardening.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal upkeep beyond occasional pruning and deadheading, which saves time and effort for gardeners.
- Aesthetic Appeal: Adds vibrant color and texture to garden beds and borders with its attractive purple flowers and foliage.
- Long Blooming: Produces flowers over a long period, often from spring to frost, providing extended visual interest.
- Deer Resistant: Less likely to be eaten by deer, reducing the need for special protections in areas with deer populations.
- Fragrance: Emits a pleasant scent that can create an enjoyable aromatic experience in the garden.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Artistic Inspiration: Artists and photographers often use the rich colors and textures of the Salvia 'Joan' as subjects in their work, capturing its vibrant hues and structural beauty in paintings, prints, and photographs.
- Educational Tool: Horticulture and botany instructors may use Salvia 'Joan' to teach students about plant growth, pollination, and the specific needs of salvias in a garden setting.
- Landscape Design Element: Due to its unique color and form, garden designers incorporate Salvia 'Joan' as a focal point in flowerbeds and borders to enhance the aesthetic appeal of landscapes.
- Gastronomy: Edible varieties of Salvia, while not specifically 'Joan', can be used to infuse drinks and dishes with a unique flavor, though 'Joan' itself is primarily ornamental.
- Wildlife Habitat: Salvia 'Joan' attracts beneficial pollinators such as bees and butterflies, providing them with nectar and habitat, thus supporting local ecosystems.
- Color Dye: The flowers of certain salvia species can be used to create natural dyes for textiles, though 'Joan's' suitability for this use would depend on the pigmentation of its flowers.
- Perfumery: While typically not used in commercial perfumery, the aromatic qualities of many salvia plants might inspire homemade perfume and scent creation.
- Floral Arrangements: Fresh or dried Salvia 'Joan' stalks can be used to add vertical interest and a splash of color in both casual and formal floral arrangements.
- Craft Projects: The dried flowers and leaves of Salvia 'Joan' can be incorporated into craft projects like potpourri, wreaths, and pressed flower art.
- Photographic Prop: Because of its striking appearance, Salvia 'Joan' can be used as a prop in photography to create interesting and colorful backdrops or to add natural elements to a composition.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Sage plant is known in Feng Shui for its cleansing and purifying properties. It can be used to clear negative energy and promote a flow of positive chi. Place it in areas that need energetic cleansing or where you wish to establish a protective energy.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Sage plant is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Healing: Salvia is related to the Latin word "salvere," meaning "to save" or "to heal," symbolizing the plant's historical use in folk medicine and healing rituals.
- Wisdom: Also known as sage, it is commonly associated with wisdom and the ability to impart wisdom, as its very name suggests a connection to sagacity.
- Longevity: Sage is often considered a symbol of long life and immortality due to its hardy nature and long-lasting qualities.
- Cleansing: Salvia, especially white sage, has been used for purification and to cleanse spaces of negativity, a practice stemming from Native American traditions.
- Protection: Carrying or growing sage is believed to offer protection against evil and negativity, a belief held in many cultures.
- Spirituality: Salvia's use in rituals and ceremonies highlights its symbolic connection to the spiritual realm and the seeking of divine guidance.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Early spring

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Sage 'Joan' should be watered deeply once the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch, to ensure the roots receive sufficient moisture without becoming waterlogged. This might equate to watering approximately once a week during active growth periods, but the timing can vary based on temperature and humidity. It’s best to water early in the morning and provide about 1 to 2 gallons of water per plant, per watering session, allowing the water to soak into the soil rather than stay on the leaves to prevent mildew.
Light
Sage 'Joan' thrives best in full sun, meaning it should receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The ideal spot for this plant is in an area where it can bask in the morning sun and be protected from the harsh afternoon sun if the climate is particularly hot, although it can tolerate full-day sunlight in cooler regions.
Temperature
Sage 'Joan' can survive in temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It is critical to protect the plant from frost, which can damage the leaves and stems.
Pruning
Pruning Sage 'Joan' is beneficial to promote bushier growth and prevent the plant from becoming leggy. It is best to prune in the early spring or after the first flush of blooms, cutting back no more than one-third of the plant's height. Regular deadheading of spent flowers will encourage further blooming throughout the season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Salvia 'Joan', also known as sage, should be well-draining with a mix of garden soil, compost, and perlite in equal parts. The ideal pH for sage is between 6.0 to 7.0, leaning towards slightly acidic to neutral.
Repotting
Salvia 'Joan', commonly referred to as sage, generally needs repotting every 1-2 years to replenish nutrients and prevent root crowding. It's best to do this in the spring before new growth starts.
Humidity & Misting
Salvia 'Joan', commonly known as sage, prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable. It does not require high humidity and can thrive in the typical humidity found in most homes.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place sage in a sunny spot and ensure good air circulation.
- Outdoor
  Plant sage in a sunny area with well-draining soil.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Salvia 'Joan', commonly known as Joan Sage, begins its life as a seed, which upon germination develops a tiny root system and shoots that emerge through the soil surface. The seedling stage follows, where the plant establishes more leaves and begins to grow rapidly under suitable conditions of sunlight, moisture, and nutrients. As it matures into a vegetative state, Joan Sage develops a robust stem structure and increasingly larger and more abundant foliage, which is essential for photosynthesis and further growth. The next stage is the flowering phase, where the plant produces striking flowers that attract pollinators, which is critical for the plant's reproductive process. After pollination, the plant sets seeds, which are eventually dispersed, marking the plant's entry into the senescence phase, where growth slows and the plant may show signs of aging. This life cycle can repeat as the new seeds germinate and give rise to new plants, continuing the species' existence.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Early spring
- Propogation: Salvia 'Joan', commonly referred to as Sage, is often propagated via cuttings, as this ensures the offspring will carry the same desirable characteristics as the parent plant. The optimal time for taking cuttings is in late spring to early summer when the plant is actively growing. Using a sharp, sterilized pair of scissors or secateurs, a gardener should cut a 3 to 5-inch (7.5 to 12.5 cm) length of new growth, just below a node. The lower leaves are then stripped off, and the cut end can be dipped in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth. The cutting should then be placed in a well-draining potting mix, kept moist, and placed in a warm area with indirect light until it roots, which usually occurs within a few weeks. Once the cutting has established a strong root system, it can be transplanted to a more permanent location in the garden or a larger pot.