Common Name: sage
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to September
Bloom Description: Deep violet
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Fragrant
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Air Pollution
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun. Prefers moist, gravelly or sandy soils with good drainage, but tolerates drought. Plants may repeat bloom throughout the summer and even into fall, but need regular moisture and deadheading to encourage this. Plants may become somewhat floppy and open up as the summer progresses, particularly in humid climates. If plants flop or otherwise depreciate in summer to the point where they look unsightly, consider cutting them back to the basal foliage. In any event, cut plants back after flowering has concluded.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Salvia nemerosa, commonly known as woodland sage, violet sage or salvia, is an erect, many-branched, woody-based, clump-forming perennial that typically grows 1.5-3' tall and to 2' wide. It is native to Europe and west-central Asia. Lavender to violet blue flowers (0.5” long) subtended by tiny reddish-purple bracts bloom in dense, terminal, upright, spike-like racemes rising well above the foliage from late spring to early summer, with sporadic reblooming through the rest of summer and into early fall. Flowers are attractive to bees and butterflies. Notched, wrinkled, ovate-lanceolate to oblong, medium green to gray-green leaves (to 4” long) are aromatic when bruised.
The genus name Salvia comes from the Latin word salveo meaning "to save or heal", in reference to the purported medically curative properties attributed to some plants in the genus.
Specific epithet means "growing in groves or woods", in reference to the native habitat of this species.
‘Marcus’ is a dwarf clump-forming perennial salvia with deep violet flowers that typically grows to only 8-10” tall. This cultivar was discovered growing as a naturally occurring mutation of S. nemerosa ‘Osfriesland’ in Germany in 1998. Erect, deep violet flower spikes appear in a lengthy bloom from late spring to early summer. Will repeat bloom from summer into fall with deadheading. Lance-shaped, green leaves (to 3” long). U.S. Plant Patent PP13,322 issued December 3, 2002. It should be noted that ‘Marcus’ was patented under the cultivar name of ‘Haeumanarc’, but The Royal Horticultural Society currently lists it as ‘Marcus’ with no mention of ‘Haeumanarc’.
Problems
Some susceptibility to powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust. Aphids, white fly and scale are occasional insect pests. Deer tend to avoid this plant.
Uses
Perennial borders, cottage gardens, butterfly gardens, wild gardens or along paths. Plant in groups for interesting accent.