Salvia guaranitica
Common Names: blue anise sage, Brazilian sage, anise sage
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae (mint Family)
Shrub Perennial Attracts Hummingbirds Attracts Butterflies
Description
Blue anise sage is a semi-woody perennial subshrub with a loose,
bushy, rather open form. It gets 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m) tall and just as
wide, and has branched, dark green stems that are square in cross
section. The branches and leaves are in pairs originating on
opposite sides of the stems. The leaves are 2-5 in (5.1-12.7 cm)
long, more or less oval in shape, slightly toothed, dark green,
wrinkled above and pale green below. They do not smell like anise.
The individual flowers are tubular, to 2 in (5.1 cm) long, with a
hoodlike upper lip and a shorter, downward pointing lower lip. They
are borne in showy 10 in (25.4 cm) spikes from early summer to late
autumn.
Popular cultivars are 'Argentina Skies', with pale blue flowers;
'Black and Blue', a larger selection, to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, with
deep blue flowers and dark purple calyces (the part of the flower
that encloses the base of the petals); and 'Purple Splendour', with
very dark purple flowers.
Location
Blue anise sage is native to Brazil, Paraguay and northern
Argentina.
Culture
Light: Blue anise sage does well in partial shade to full sun. Too
much shade will cause the stems to become elongated and fall over.
Moisture: Needs moderate water, especially in full sun in summer.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 - 11. Blue anise sage grows as a shrub in
frost-free climates. It freezes to the ground and sprouts back in
spring in zones 8 and 9A. It can be cultivated as an annual in
colder climes. It might be possible to maintain blue anise sage in
zone 7 if mulched heavily in winter.
Propagation: Cuttings are fairly easy to root. Take fast-growing tip
cutting in spring or semi-hard tip cuttings in summer or fall.
Results are better with bottom heat.
Usage
Blue anise sedge is a reliable bloomer throughout the whole summer.
It has a tendency to get pretty large after a few good years, so
give it some room. Use it in the background in borders and in mixed
shrub and perennial plantings. The deep blue-flowered cultivars are
especially showy. Hummingbirds and butterflies love most of the
sages and this one is no exception, so be sure to include it in your
butterfly garden.
Features
Salvia is the largest genus in the mint family with some 900 species
of annuals, perennials and soft-wooded shrubs, including culinary
and medicinal herbs as well as garden ornamentals. Many outstanding
South and Central American species have been brought into
cultivation just since the 1980's. |
