Salvia farinacea grow and care – shrub of the genus Salvia also known as Mealycup sage, Salvia farinacea perennial evergreen plant or as annual plant in cold climate, used as for fragrant and as ornamental plant, can grow in tropic, mediterranean, subtropical or tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone 9+ and with the right overwinter care in hardiness zone 8, and grow as annual in hardiness zone 5+.
Leaves color green in elliptic shape (possible to smoke).
How to care: Put fertilize once a year will be enough, winter care require over that plant in the base possible with wood chip or dead leaves
What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed (care instruction bellow) / Vegetative reproduction- possible by bending a branch over and covering it with soil, or by cutting, the cutting possible to put in water and switch the water every few days or put the stem in soil better peat soil and better with root growth hormone, in both cutting methods need to take care what will be enough humidity better to do it in warm spring or in autumn in hardiness zone 10b-11 in half shade
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun / Half Shade
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers: Yes, when grow in container, size 10-20L (2.6-5.2 gallons), require small to average amount of water with well-drained soil and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom of pot, when grown as perennial every few years to switch soil can be all or just part of the soil, soil need to be well ventilated and make enough hole in the containers with good drainage, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Summer
General information about the flower Purple-blue flower small and grow on stalk, flowers attract pollinator
How to grow Salvia greggii from seeds
Sowing requirement: Better to sow it in temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) possible in 15-29C (59-84F) but will take more time to germinate and less seeds will germinate
Saving and care seeds until sowing: Dry and dark location better in root temperature or refrigerator
Sowing season: Spring to summer in hardiness zone lower than 10a (include) but better in spring, autumn to winter in hardiness zone 10b+ spring, autumn or winter, and better not to sow it in hot summer days
How to plant: Plant in sunny location until 25C (77F), temperature that will be above in half shade
Planting spacing: 30*40cm (12*16 inches)
Depth of Sowing: 3-6mm (0.2-0.4 inch)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Moist soil, humidity, sunny location
Watering requires for Seeds: Average amount of water, don’t let the soil dry and keep the soil moist
Germination time: 2-3 weeks in optimal condition but can take 5 weeks
Condition of seedling: Moist soil, sunny location but if it’s in the summer need to increase the amount of water
Cultivars
Salvia blue victory (also known as Victoria blue flowering sage, Victoria blue salvia) – purple violet to deep blue flowers, long bloom period from late spring to frost. Can reach a height 45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches) with a spread 25 to 45cm (10 to 18 inches)
Blue bedder sage – Deep violet-blue color flowers. Can reach a height of 60 to 90cm (24 to 36 inches) with a spread of 30 to 45cm (12 to 18inches)
Strata – Can reach a height of 35 to 45cm (14 to 18 inches) with a spread up to 40cm (16 inches). Bloom from summer to autumn. Flowers color is bicolor with blue and white calyx
