Salvia microphylla grow and care – shrub of the genus Salvia also known as Baby sage or Blackcurrant sage, Salvia microphylla perennial evergreen used as edible leaves and also for the ornamental flowers and the fragrant, can grow in subtropics, mediterranean, temperate climate and growing in hardiness zone: 10-11 as perennial and hardiness zone 5-9 (as annual), in hardiness zone 9 can grow as perennial with the right overwinter care.
Leaves edible and fragrant in color green in ovate shape the leaves hairy, leaves flavor remind blackcurrant (with little bit imagination)
Salvia microphylla flower
Flower edible color can be: red, pink, white or more than one color mostly pink and white, the flower shape its dancer body with dress, flowers change the color by the temperature in hot temperature the flower mostly with one color in spring and autumn can be in bicolor.
Salvia microphylla for sale – Seeds or Plants to Buy
How to grow Salvia microphylla – growing and care:
More than -2C, moist, well-drained soil, rich soil, mulch
How to care:
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 better to do it in warm spring or in autumn in hardiness zone 10b-11 in half shade
Is it necessary to use vegetative reproduction?
No, but in order to ensure the color of the flowers or the cultivars it’s highly recommend to start from cutting
Difficulties or problems when growing:
Invasive
Planting season?:
Spring to summer in hardiness zone 9, spring or autumn in hardiness zone 10b, if the summer not too much hot possible in summer, all year in hardiness zone 11, as annual plant in spring
Pests and diseases:
Aphids, spider mites
Pruning season:
All year, better after the blooming season
How to prune:
Just for design
Size of the plant:
0.7-1.2 m, 28-48 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing
Water requirement:
Small amount of water / 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 planter / flower pot / 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, 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:
Entire year
General information about the flower
Dancer flower the top is body with dress, color can be: red, pink, white or more than one color mostly pink and white
Edible leaves
Leaves harvesting season:
All year in hardiness zone 11+ and in hardiness zone 9-10 from spring to autumn and as annual late spring to summer
How to harvest the leaves?
After the plant establish can with the stems
Information about leaves:
Leaves are oval the color light to dark green, the taste remind with imagination to pineapple
Uses of Salvia microphylla leaves:
Beverage, eat raw
How to grow Salvia microphylla 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 hot lips – Flowers color is bicolor red and white. Plant size when matures is 100cm (40 inches) height and 100cm (40 inches) spread. Blooming from the spring until hard frost in autumn.
Red velvet – Flowers color are red velvety and are medium sized. Blooming period is in spring and in autumn.
Scientific name:
Salvia microphylla
Alternative names: Baby sage or Blackcurrant sage
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