Jame Sage Salvia × jamensis 'La Luna'
ABOUT
The Salvia 'La Luna' is an attractive plant that stands out with its lush, green foliage and striking flower display. The leaves are typically ovate to lance-shaped, showcasing a bright green color that provides a perfect backdrop for the blossoms. This plant is known for its beautiful flowers that appear on tall spikes. These blossoms are commonly a light buttery yellow hue, adding a soft, warm touch of color to any garden. The blooms are tubular and have a somewhat bilateral symmetry with a prominent lower lip that is characteristic of plants in its family. The flowers are arranged in whorls around the stem, creating an eye-catching pattern that is dense with color. Salvia 'La Luna,' when in bloom, becomes a focal point in gardens and attracts various pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which find the flowers irresistible. Overall, the plant possesses an elegant and graceful habit, with its decorative flowers providing a striking contrast against its foliage. Its appearance is neat and well-branched, forming a pleasing aesthetic that works well in borders, beds, and as a part of mixed ornamental plantings.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Lamiaceae
Synonyms
Jame Sage, La Luna Sage
Common names
Salvia × jamensis 'La Luna'.
ToxicityTo humans
Sage (Salvia) plants, including Salvia × jamensis 'La Luna', are generally considered non-toxic to humans. They are often used in cooking and herbal medicine. However, consuming large quantities of sage might cause adverse effects due to the presence of compounds like thujone. Symptoms of toxicity from excessive sage ingestion could include vomiting, dizziness, rapid heart rate, and seizures in very severe cases. It's advisable to consume sage in moderation.
To pets
Sage plants, such as Salvia × jamensis 'La Luna', are typically safe for pets and are not known to be toxic to dogs or cats. However, as with any plant, ingestion in large amounts could potentially cause gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea, in some pets. It is always best to monitor your pets and keep an eye on them when they are around plants, and consult with a veterinarian if you have concerns about potential plant toxicity.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
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: Salvia La Luna is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden, aiding in pollination.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, this plant has good drought tolerance, requiring less watering and maintenance.
- Long Blooming: It produces flowers over a long period, typically from late spring to the first frost, providing extended visual interest.
- Deer Resistance: Salvia La Luna is generally resistant to deer, which makes it suitable for gardens in areas with deer populations.
- Easy to Grow: It is relatively easy to cultivate and can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, making it accessible for many gardeners.
- Landscape Versatility: The plant can be used in various landscape settings such as borders, containers, and as part of a mixed perennial bed.
- Aromatic Foliage: The leaves are aromatic when crushed, which can add a pleasant scent to the garden or when used in cut flower arrangements.
- Vibrant Colors: The flowers of Salvia La Luna add a pop of color with their creamy-yellow to white blooms, enhancing the aesthetic value of any garden space.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Artistic inspiration: With its bright and eye-catching flowers, Salvia × jamensis 'La Luna' can serve as a beautiful subject for paintings, drawings, and photography, inspiring artists with its natural beauty.
- Floral arrangements: The vibrant blooms can be cut and used in fresh or dried floral arrangements to add a splash of color to indoor settings.
- Culinary decoration: Edible flowers of ‘La Luna’ may be used for garnishing dishes and in salads to add an unexpected visual appeal to culinary creations.
- Educational tool: It can be used in botany classes for teaching about plant breeding and hybridization due to its background as an inter-specific hybrid.
- Butterfly gardening: ‘La Luna’ attracts butterflies with its flowers, which can be beneficial for butterfly conservation efforts and creating habitats for pollinators.
- Natural fabric dye: The flowers might be used to create a natural dye for fabrics, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic dyes.
- Crafting potpourri: Dried ‘La Luna’ flowers can be added to potpourri mixes for a pleasant fragrance in homes and as a natural air freshener option.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals can be used as biodegradable confetti for events and celebrations to reduce environmental impact.
- Theme gardens: ‘La Luna’ can be used as part of moon or celestial-themed gardens due to its name and pale coloration, which may reflect moonlight in the evening.
- Photography prop: The plant can serve as a unique prop for garden photography, especially during full bloom when the flowers are most vibrant.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Salvia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Salvia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Healing: Salvia, also known as sage, is commonly associated with healing due to its medicinal properties that have been recognized for centuries.
- Wisdom: The name 'sage' is synonymous with wisdom, invoking a sense of knowledge and experience.
- Longevity: Sage plants are often connected with longevity, both through their historical use in herbal medicine and their hardy nature.
- Protection: Traditionally, sage has been used in various cultures for cleansing and protecting spaces from negative influences.
- Purification: The burning of sage is a common practice in many traditions for purifying the air and spirit.
WaterThe Autumn Sage 'La Luna,' needs regular watering to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. It is best to water it deeply every week, providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water especially during dry spells. Overhead watering should be avoided to prevent leaf spot diseases; instead, water at the base of the plant. During hotter periods, increase watering frequency but always check the soil moisture before doing so. Reduce the amount to half a gallon every other week during the dormant winter season.
LightThe Autumn Sage 'La Luna' thrives best in full sun, which means it needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. The ideal spot for this plant would be in an area where it can enjoy unfiltered sunlight throughout the day. However, 'La Luna' can tolerate some light shade, especially in regions with very intense midday sun.
TemperatureAutumn Sage 'La Luna' performs best in a temperature range between 60°F and 85°F. It is cold hardy down to about 15°F but should be protected from frost, and it can handle temperatures up to about 100°F if provided with enough water. The ideal conditions for this perennial involve consistent warmth, with as few fluctuations as possible in the comfortable range.
PruningPrune Autumn Sage 'La Luna' to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. It's best to prune in early spring, cutting back the plant by about one-third to stimulate new growth. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, can be done throughout the blooming season to promote continuous flowering. It's also important to prune away any damaged or diseased stems as they appear to maintain plant health.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSalvia 'La Luna' prefers a well-draining soil mix with a pH ranging from slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0-7.0). A mix containing garden loam, coarse sand, and compost in equal parts works well to ensure good drainage and nutrient availability.
RepottingSalvia 'La Luna' should be repotted every 1-2 years or when it outgrows its current pot, which is usually indicated by roots growing through the drainage holes.
Humidity & MistingSalvia 'La Luna' thrives in average humidity levels; it does not require high humidity and can cope with the humidity found in most homes and outdoor environments.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Salvia 'La Luna' in bright indirect light and ensure good air circulation.
Outdoor
Plant Salvia 'La Luna' in full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil.
Hardiness zone
7-9 USDA
Life cycleThe Mexican Sage 'La Luna' starts its life cycle from seed germination, which occurs in warm conditions with adequate moisture. After germination, the seedling stage follows, where the plant develops its first true leaves and a root system capable of taking up nutrients. Following this, the vegetative growth stage is characterized by the development of a stronger stem structure, more leaves, and increased foliage as the plant matures. When the environmental conditions are favorable, typically in late spring or early summer, the plant enters the flowering stage, producing the characteristic white blooms that attract pollinators. After pollination, the plant may produce seeds, and once seeds are dispersed, the plant enters a period of dormancy, especially in regions with colder winters. The life cycle is completed when the plant emerges from dormancy with new growth in the next growing season, ready to begin the cycle again.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Early Summer
Salvia × jamensis 'La Luna', commonly known as Jame Sage, is typically propagated through semi-ripe cuttings taken in the late summer. To do this, select healthy, non-flowering stems and cut a 3 to 5-inch (about 7.5 to 12.5 cm) length just below a node. Remove the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and dip the cut end into a rooting hormone to encourage root growth. Those cuttings should then be planted in a mix of perlite and peat moss or a sterile potting mix, ensuring that the node where the leaves were removed is buried. Provide bright, indirect light and maintain consistent moisture without saturating the soil until the cuttings have rooted, which generally takes a few weeks.
