Wendy's Wish Sage Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' (PBR)
ABOUT
Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' is a perennial plant that boasts a striking visual presence in any garden or landscape. It is characterized by its vibrant flowers that are typically a rich, magenta-pink hue, presenting a tubular shape which is highly attractive to hummingbirds and bees. The flowers are abundantly clustered on lengthy spikes that gracefully emerge above the foliage, creating a lush and colorful display. The leaves of 'Wendy's Wish' are equally attractive, offering a rich green background against which the flowers stand out. These leaves are typically oval to lance-shaped with a slightly wrinkled texture, giving the plant a lush and full-bodied appearance. The foliage may also emit a pleasant fragrance when brushed or crushed, adding a sensory experience to the visual beauty of the plant. The overall form of 'Wendy's Wish' is a dense, bushy clump, creating an exuberant and robust look in garden settings. It works exceptionally well when planted in groups or borders, and can also be a lovely specimen in ornamental pots. The strong and upright nature of the flower spikes, combined with the soft, verdant leaves, creates a harmonious balance that can complement a wide variety of other plants in the garden.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Lamiaceae
Synonyms
Wendy's Wish Sage
Common names
Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' (PBR)
ToxicityTo humans
Wendy's Wish Sage is generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, it is always advisable to avoid ingesting plants that are not explicitly meant for consumption as individual sensitivity to plants can vary.
To pets
Wendy's Wish Sage is not known to be toxic to pets. As with humans, it is still best to prevent pets from eating ornamental plants to avoid any potential stomach upset or individual allergic reactions.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Evergreen
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Magenta
Height
3 feet (0.91 meters)
Spread
2 feet (0.61 meters)
Plant type
Shrub
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
Australia
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts pollinators: This variety of Salvia is known for attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to the garden, which helps in the pollination of plants.
- Low maintenance: Once established, 'Wendy's Wish' is drought tolerant and requires minimal care, making it a great choice for gardeners with limited time.
- Long blooming period: This plant provides a lengthy display of vibrant magenta-pink flowers from spring to autumn, offering long-lasting visual interest.
- Versatile plant: It can be used in a variety of garden settings, including borders, containers, and as part of a mixed perennial bed.
- Fast growth: Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' is a quickly growing plant, meaning it can fill in garden spaces relatively fast providing garden coverage.
- Deer resistance: This type of Salvia is typically resistant to deer, which can be particularly beneficial in areas where deer are a common garden nuisance.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- As a natural dye: The flowers and leaves of Wendy's Wish may be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, offering a range of pinks and greens depending on the mordant used.
- In crafting potpourri: The aromatic leaves can be dried and added to potpourri mixes for a pleasant fragrance in the home.
- As an additive in candles: The essential oils from Wendy's Wish can be incorporated into homemade candles to provide a soothing sage scent when burned.
- For flavoring beverages: Leaves can be infused in hot water to make a flavorful tea or used to add a unique twist to cocktails.
- In homemade herbal sachets: Dried leaves and flowers can be sewn into sachets to naturally deter moths and freshen drawers and closets.
- As a companion plant: Wendy's Wish can be planted in vegetable gardens to attract pollinators and beneficial insects that help with pest control.
- In edible landscaping: The striking flowers and foliage can add aesthetic value to edible garden landscapes, blending ornamental and culinary uses.
- As an educational tool: Wendy's Wish can be used in schools or educational programs to teach about plant hybridization and patenting of plant varieties.
- For nature photography: Its vivid flowers offer excellent opportunities for photographers and nature enthusiasts to capture stunning images of pollinators in action.
- In landscaping for wildlife: The plant can be incorporated into garden designs aimed at providing nectar sources for hummingbirds and butterflies.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe plant Sage is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe plant Sage is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Healing - Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ shares a symbolic meaning with other salvias, commonly associated with health and healing. This can be traced back to the plant's name, which is derived from the Latin word 'salvere', meaning 'to save' or 'to heal'.
- Wisdom - The name Sage, which is a common name for Salvia, suggests a connection to wisdom and the wise. Historically, sage has been a symbol of wisdom and sage plants are often related to gaining knowledge and insight.
- Longevity - Sage plants, in general, are associated with a long life, possibly because of their health-associated properties and robust nature.
- Protection - In various cultures, sage has been used in rituals and as an herb to offer protection against spirits or negative energies, which transfers a sense of safeguarding to the plant’s symbolic meaning.
WaterWendy's Wish Salvia should be watered deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During hot, dry periods, this may mean watering once or twice a week, providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water each time to ensure the soil is moistened well. Reduce watering during cooler, rainy periods to prevent overwatering. Adjust the frequency of watering based on the plant's environment and season, ensuring the plant is neither waterlogged nor dry for prolonged periods. A general guideline is to provide approximately 1 gallon of water per plant each week during the growing season.
LightWendy's Wish Salvia thrives in full sun to partial shade. The best spot for the plant is one where it can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. If grown indoors, a south-facing window or a bright sunroom would be ideal to ensure adequate light for healthy growth.
TemperatureWendy's Wish Salvia prefers a temperature range between 50°F and 85°F. Its ideal growing conditions are warm days with moderate to high temperatures. While it can survive brief periods outside this range, it should not be exposed to temperatures below 32°F or above 90°F for extended periods to prevent damage to the plant.
PruningPrune Wendy's Wish Salvia to promote bushier growth and remove spent blooms, which encourages further flowering. Pruning can be done every few weeks during the growing season. The best time for a more substantial pruning is late winter or early spring before the new growth starts, which helps to maintain the desired shape and health of the plant.
CleaningAs needed
SoilWendy's Wish Sage requires well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. A good mix for this plant would be equal parts garden soil, compost, and perlite or coarse sand to facilitate drainage. It will appreciate a mulch layer to retain moisture and provide nutrients as it breaks down.
RepottingWendy's Wish Sage should be repotted every one to two years to refresh the soil and provide space for its growing root system. The best time to repot is in the spring, just before the growth season begins.
Humidity & MistingWendy's Wish Sage prefers a moderate humidity level, consistent with what is typically found in outdoor environments. It does not require the high humidity levels that some tropical plants do and is quite adaptable to average home humidity levels when grown indoors.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Wendy's Wish Sage near a sunny window; minimal water.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, well-drained soil, protect from frost.
Hardiness zone
9-11 USDA
Life cycleSalvia 'Wendy's Wish' begins its life as a seed, entering a germination stage when exposed to proper warmth and moisture. Once germinated, the seedling emerges and enters a period of vegetative growth where it develops a root system and foliage. This stage is critical, as the plant establishes itself and gains the strength needed to bloom. Following this, the plant enters the flowering stage, characterized by vibrant pink blooms that attract pollinators and contribute to the plant's reproduction. After pollination, it sets seeds that eventually mature, completing the reproductive cycle. As a perennial, 'Wendy's Wish' may then enter a period of dormancy during colder months, only to restart its growth cycle with the return of favorable conditions.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Summer
Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' is commonly propagated through stem cuttings. The best time to take cuttings for propagation is late spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing. To propagate via stem cuttings, choose a healthy stem that has new growth but is not yet flowering. Cut a 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) length of stem just below a leaf node, remove the bottom leaves, and dip the cut end into rooting hormone. Plant the cutting into a well-draining potting mix and keep it moist but not waterlogged. Covering the pot with a plastic bag can help maintain humidity while the cutting develops roots, which generally takes a few weeks. Once new growth appears, indicating successful rooting, the new plant can be gradually acclimated to less humid conditions before eventually potting it into a larger container or planting it out in the garden.
