Salvia Salvia 'Penny's Smile'
ABOUT
Salvia 'Penny's Smile' is a visually striking plant that stands out with its vibrant blooms and lush foliage. The flowers are the most eye-catching feature, typically presenting in a bright shade of pink that draws the attention of garden visitors and pollinators alike. These blossoms are arranged in whorls along the stem, giving a full and abundant appearance. The plant's leaves are also notable, with a rich green hue that beautifully contrasts the pink flowers. They have a slightly rough texture, which is typical for many varieties of sage, the common name for Salvia. The leaves may also have a fine layer of fuzz, lending a soft texture upon closer inspection. Overall, Salvia 'Penny's Smile' exudes a sense of cheerfulness and charm, thanks in no small part to the harmonious combination of its flowers and foliage. With its bright blossoms and verdant leaves, it's a lovely addition to any garden space that aims to create a show of colors and textures.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Lamiaceae
Synonyms
Penny's Smile Salvia, Ornamental Sage
Common names
Salvia 'Penny's Smile'.
ToxicityTo humans
Salvia 'Penny's Smile', commonly known as Salvia, generally, is not known to be toxic to humans. Some species of Salvia are even used for culinary purposes as herbs. However, it's always advisable to exercise caution and avoid ingesting plants unless you are certain of their safety, as individual reactions can vary.
To pets
Salvia 'Penny's Smile', commonly referred to as Salvia, is not typically known to be toxic to pets. While it should not be a problem if a pet ingests a small amount, pets should not be encouraged to eat ornamental plants, and owners should always monitor their pets for any adverse reactions when they are around plants. If you notice any unusual symptoms after your pet has ingested part of the plant, contact your veterinarian.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
2 feet 1 inches (65 cm)
Spread
2 feet 1 inches (65 cm)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
7
Native area
Cultivar
Benefits
General Benefits- Aesthetic Appeal: Salvia 'Penny's Smile' offers vibrant lavender-pink flowers that add color and visual interest to gardens.
- Attracts Pollinators: The plant is known to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, supporting biodiversity.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it is drought-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and low-water-use gardens.
- Low Maintenance: It requires minimal care beyond the initial establishment period, making it ideal for gardeners looking for low-maintenance plants.
- Deer Resistance: Salvia 'Penny's Smile' is generally resistant to deer, which can be important in areas where deer browsing is a concern.
- Adaptability: The plant can thrive in a variety of soil types as long as they are well-draining.
- Long Blooming Period: It has a long flowering season, often from late spring to fall, providing long-lasting garden interest.
- Herbaceous Perennial: As a perennial, it comes back year after year, saving the gardener time and money in planting annuals.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Art and Craft Supplies: Dried 'Penny's Smile' flowers can be used in crafting, such as making natural dyes or pressed flower decorations for cards and bookmarks.
- Garden Accents: The stems and flowers of 'Penny's Smile' can be used in garden sculptures or to create natural garden borders and pathways accentuating the garden's aesthetics.
- Culinary Garnish: Fresh or dried 'Penny's Smile' flowers can add a colorful garnish to salads, desserts, and cocktails, offering an ornamental touch.
- Photography Prop: The vibrant flowers and foliage of 'Penny's Smile' make an excellent prop for photography enthusiasts, providing a rich backdrop for macro photographs.
- Scented Potpourri: Dried 'Penny's Smile' flowers and leaves can contribute to a homemade potpourri blend, creating a pleasant natural scent for indoor spaces.
- Pet Enrichment: The plant can be used under close supervision as an enrichment tool for pet rabbits or tortoises that enjoy grazing on non-toxic plants.
- Candle Making: The flowers and leaves can be embedded into wax to craft decorative candles with aesthetic appeal due to their unique texture and color.
- Educational Tool: 'Penny's Smile' serves as a resource in educational settings, helping to teach students about pollination and plant biology due to its appeal to bees and butterflies.
- Fabric Printing: The leaves and flowers of 'Penny's Smile' can be used in the process of fabric printing and stamping to create botanical designs on textiles.
- Decorative Ice Cubes: Freeze 'Penny's Smile' flowers in ice cube trays to create decorative ice cubes that can add a floral touch to cold beverages at special events.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Sage plant is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Sage plant is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Healing: Salvia, commonly referred to as sage, is often associated with healing properties, both physical and spiritual, as many Salvia species have been used in traditional medicine and spiritual practices.
- Wisdom: Sage is connected with wisdom due to its frequent use in rituals for cleansing and granting insight, as well as its role as a symbol of knowledge and sagacity in various cultures.
- Longevity: The durability and hardiness of the sage plant have made it a symbol of longevity and immortality in some traditions, embodying the wish for a long and healthy life.
- Purity: With its purifying qualities often enacted through smudging ceremonies, sage represents purity, the clearing of negativity, and the creation of sacred spaces.
- Protection: Sage is believed to offer spiritual protection, warding off evil spirits and bad luck, making it a commonly used plant in protection spells and charms.
WaterSage 'Penny's Smile' should be watered regularly, but it’s important to let the soil partially dry out between waterings to avoid waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. For outdoor plants, watering once a week with 1 to 1.5 gallons per plant should suffice, depending on weather conditions. During hot, dry periods, the plants may need watering twice a week. Indoor plants should be checked more frequently, as household heating can dry out the soil faster; typically, watering with 8-16 onzes per week should be adequate. Always check the top inch of soil for dryness before watering.
LightSage 'Penny's Smile' prefers full sun to partial shade conditions, meaning a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily is ideal. They can tolerate some afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates, which can prevent scorching. A south or west-facing garden bed or window sill is optimal for the best growth and flowering.
TemperatureSage 'Penny's Smile' thrives in a temperature range between 60°F and 70°F, which are typical daytime temperatures. It can tolerate temperatures as low as the mid-20s°F but should be protected from prolonged freezes. Ideally, avoid placing the plant in areas that experience extreme temperature fluctuations for best growth and flower production.
PruningSage 'Penny's Smile' should be pruned to promote bushier growth, improve air circulation, and maintain a desirable shape. Light pruning can be done throughout the growing season to remove any dead or fading flowers. A more substantial pruning is best done in the early spring or after the last frost date, when plants can be cut back by one-third to encourage fresh growth and more robust flowering.
CleaningAs needed
SoilSalvia 'Penny's Smile', commonly known as sage, thrives in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 8.0. A soil mix for sage can be made by combining two parts garden soil, one part sand or perlite, and one part compost or well-rotted manure to provide nutrients.
RepottingSage, including Salvia 'Penny's Smile', typically requires repotting every 1-2 years. Choose a pot that is slightly larger than the current one and repot in the spring for the best results.
Humidity & MistingSalvia 'Penny's Smile', or sage, prefers moderate humidity levels and should be fine in average home conditions; it does not require high humidity.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and avoid overwatering.
Outdoor
Full sun, well-drained soil; shield from harsh winds.
Hardiness zone
5-9 USDA
Life cycleSalvia 'Penny's Smile', commonly known as Penny's Smile Sage, begins its life cycle with seed germination, which requires a warm and moist environment to trigger the growth of the seedling. Once sprouted, the seedling grows into a young plant with distinctive foliage and begins to establish a root system. As the plant matures, it enters a vegetative state where it focuses energy on growing leaves and stems. Following vegetative growth, Penny's Smile Sage reaches the flowering stage, producing vibrant flowers that attract pollinators and are typically violet-blue in color. After pollination, the flowers develop into small seed capsules containing seeds that can be dispersed to create new plants. At the end of the flowering season, if conditions are not favorable, the plant may enter a period of dormancy, particularly in colder climates, or continue its life cycle if the environment allows for year-round growth.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: Salvia 'Penny's Smile' is commonly propagated through stem cuttings which can be taken ideally in spring or early summer. To do this, a gardener would select a healthy, non-flowering shoot and cut a 4 to 6-inch (10 to 15 cm) piece below a leaf node. The bottom leaves are then removed and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. This cutting is then placed in a well-draining soil mix, ensuring at least one or two nodes are below the soil surface where roots will form. Consistent moisture and warmth are crucial, so providing a humid environment, such as a plastic cover, can be beneficial until roots establish, which usually takes a few weeks. Once the cutting develops a strong root system, it can be transplanted to a larger pot or directly into the garden.
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