Purple Queen Salvia Salvia 'Purple Queen'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Salvia 'Purple Queen' is a striking plant noted for its vibrant and rich purple flowers that form in spikes, creating a vivid display of color. The flowers typically exude a strong, pleasing scent that attracts a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. The petals are tubular and are held aloft by slender, upright spikes that emerge from the foliage. The leaves of the 'Purple Queen' are typically green, sometimes with hints of purple, especially under intense sunlight, and have a somewhat textured or velvety surface. They are arranged in an opposite fashion along the stems, creating a lush and full appearance. The overall shape of the plant is often rounded, with a dense, bushy habit that adds to its ornamental appeal. The contrast between the deep purple flowers and the green foliage makes the Salvia 'Purple Queen' a favored choice for gardeners looking to add a splash of color to their garden display without taking up a significant amount of space.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae
- Synonyms
  Purple Queen Salvia, Purple Queen Sage
- Common names
  Salvia 'Purple Queen'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The 'Purple Queen' Salvia, more commonly known as 'Purple Queen' sage, is not typically known for being toxic to humans. Most species of Salvia are generally considered safe and are often used in culinary and medicinal applications. However, it is always advisable for individuals to exercise caution and to avoid ingesting large quantities of any ornamental plant due to potential individual sensitivities or unforeseen allergic reactions. If large amounts are consumed, it could possibly cause gastrointestinal upset or irritation.
- To pets
  The 'Purple Queen' Salvia, or 'Purple Queen' sage, is not commonly recognized as a toxic plant to pets. Salvia species, in general, are not listed among the plants that are commonly harmful to cats and dogs. Nevertheless, individual pets may have sensitivities, and consuming plant material can sometimes lead to mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. While it is unlikely to cause serious harm, it is best to prevent your pets from ingesting it as a precautionary measure.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Purple
- Height
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Spread
  2 feet (60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  8
- Native area
  America

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive foliage: The plant has striking purple leaves that add aesthetic value to any garden.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, it tends to require less water, making it suitable for xeriscaping and dry climate gardens.
- Wildlife attraction: It can attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for the garden ecosystem.
- Low maintenance: The plant has minimal requirements regarding pruning and general care, ideal for gardeners seeking low-maintenance plants.
- Fast growth: It tends to grow quickly, providing rapid coverage or filling in garden spaces effectively.
- Herbaceous perennial: Being a perennial, it can live for more than two years, providing a long-lasting presence in the garden.
- Suitable for containers: It can thrive in pots and containers, making it versatile for patios, balconies, or spaces with limited ground soil.
- Aromatic properties: The foliage may release a pleasant scent, contributing to a sensory garden experience.
- Companion planting: Can be used effectively in companion planting to enhance the growth of other plants or deter pests.
- Seasonal interest: Often has a long blooming period that adds color and vibrancy to the garden across seasons.
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
- Salvia 'Purple Queen', commonly known as Mexican Bush Sage, can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, giving them a soft, subtle hue.
- The plant's velvety foliage and flowers provide texture and visual interest in dried floral arrangements or bouquets.
- Mexican Bush Sage can be utilized as an educational tool to study pollination, as it is highly attractive to bees and hummingbirds.
- The strong stems of Mexican Bush Sage can be used in lightweight garden structures for climbing plants when pruned appropriately.
- When planted in outdoor containers, its vibrant color and texture can contribute to avant-garde landscape design.
- Mexican Bush Sage's flowers can be used to make a natural blush or eyeshadow when crushed into a powder form.
- Used in a sensory garden, the soft leaves of the plant can offer a unique tactile experience.
- The branch tips of Mexican Bush Sage can be used as natural bookmarks, which gradually release their fragrance while inserted in a book.
- This plant's colorful presence can be employed in photography, providing a rich backdrop or focus for artistic compositions.
- As a companion plant in the vegetable garden, Mexican Bush Sage can help attract beneficial insects that aid in pest control.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Salvia 'Purple Queen', commonly known as the 'Purple Queen', can be used in Feng Shui for its purple color which is associated with spiritual awareness and wisdom. It can be placed in the wealth corner, or southeast area of a space, to attract prosperity or in a meditation space to enhance spiritual growth.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Purple Queen is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Wisdom: The name 'Salvia' is derived from the Latin 'salvere', meaning to save or heal, evoking a sense of wisdom and knowledge.
- Spiritual Enlightenment: Salvia has been used in various cultures for its psychotropic effects in spiritual rituals and practices, symbolizing the pursuit of enlightenment.
- Longevity: In traditional medicine, salvia was often associated with longevity and well-being, a symbol of a long and healthy life.
- Protection: This plant is believed to offer protection against evil and negativity, often used in cleansing ceremonies to ward off bad spirits.
- Purification: Salvia's cleansing properties also extend to its symbolism, where it represents the purification of the body and mind.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

40%

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Purple Queen Salvia should be watered regularly, aiming for moist soil, but it's critical to avoid waterlogged conditions as this can lead to root rot. During the active growing season in spring and summer, water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry, which might be approximately once a week, depending on climate conditions. Provide about 1 gallon of water for each plant during each watering session to ensure deep hydration. Reduce watering frequency in the fall and further in winter to match the plant's reduced growth and water needs.
Light
The Purple Queen Salvia thrives in full sun to partial shade conditions. It is best to place the plant in a spot where it receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, as ample sunlight promotes the best flowering and robust growth. If grown indoors, a southern or western-facing window is ideal to provide the necessary light levels.
Temperature
The Purple Queen Salvia prefers temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal growth. It can survive minimum temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but growth will be stunted and the plant may suffer damage. For this reason, it's ideal to protect Purple Queen Salvia from frost and to plant it in areas where winters are mild.
Pruning
Purple Queen Salvia should be pruned to maintain shape, remove dead or spent flowers, and encourage bushier growth and more blooms. It's best to prune in early spring before new growth begins and after the last frost has passed. Cut back the plant by about one-third, and continue to deadhead, or remove spent blooms, throughout the blooming season to promote continuous flowering.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Purple Sage ideally requires well-draining soil with a mix of sand, loam, and compost to thrive. An ideal soil pH range for the Purple Sage is slightly acidic to neutral, between 6.0 and 7.0. Regular soil amendments with organic matter can help maintain soil health and structure.
Repotting
Purple Sage should be repotted every 1-2 years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth. It's best repotted in the spring before the new growth starts.
Humidity & Misting
Purple Sage prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable. It can do well in average home humidity levels, without the need for additional humidity control.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and ensure proper drainage.
- Outdoor
  Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil.
Life cycle
The life of 'Purple Queen' salvia begins with seed germination, which occurs when conditions are warm and moist, typically in spring. Once germinated, the seedlings grow rapidly, producing a rosette of leaves and establishing a root system. As the plant matures, it develops a sturdy stem and begins to form flower spikes adorned with vibrant purple blooms, attracting pollinators to the garden during the flowering stage in late spring to summer. After pollination, the flowers produce seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. Throughout its life, 'Purple Queen' salvia may undergo vegetative growth, with pruning and deadheading encouraging bushier growth and potentially more blooms. As a perennial, the plant will experience a period of dormancy in the winter, during which above-ground growth dies back, and it re-emerges in the following growing season.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- The most popular method of propagating the Salvia 'Purple Queen', commonly known as Purple Sage, involves taking stem cuttings. To do this, one should select a healthy, non-flowering shoot during the spring or early summer. Cut a 4 to 6 inch (about 10 to 15 cm) section just below a leaf node, where the concentration of growth hormones is high. Removing the lower leaves and dipping the cut end into a rooting hormone can improve chances of success. The cutting should then be inserted into a pot filled with moistened potting mix or a mixture of perlite and peat. Placing the pot in a warm, bright area out of direct sunlight and keeping the soil consistently moist can encourage rooting. Roots often develop within a few weeks, after which the new plants can be gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions and planted in their permanent location.