Plant pickup: Thursdays 3–7pm · Also by appointment 512.348.7570
Plant pickup: Thursdays 3–7pm · Also by appointment 512.348.7570
— Plant Nursery · Texas-Grown
$10.00
Mature Plant Size: 2-3’x1.5-2′
Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) is a Texas native perennial prized for its upright spikes of velvety violet-blue flowers on silvery, powdery (“mealy”) stems above sage-scented gray-green foliage. It blooms in spring, summer, and fall, handles heat and rocky soils with ease, and draws bees and butterflies. Deer leave it alone.
Our Mealy Blue Sage transplants are grown for compact, well-branched growth and heavy bloom production suited to Austin borders and containers.
2 in stock
Low water needs once established
Overwatering encourages floppy growth and mildew
No fertilizer needed
Shear back by one-third after the first flush to encourage rebloom
Cut back to 6 inches in late winter
Remove spent flower spikes
Powdery mildew in humid or crowded conditions
Root rot in wet soil
Flopping in rich soil or shade
Sources list hardiness for USDA Zones 8-10 with very high heat tolerance, which suits Austin
Mass plantings give the strongest display; plants return reliably from the roots most years
Shear lightly in midsummer if the planting looks tired
New growth emerges in March; first major bloom flush in late spring
Bloom continues through heat; deadhead to prolong flowering
Reblooms strongly as nights cool
May die back after a hard freeze; cut back in late winter
Fall (preferred) or spring
Ideal soil temperatures: 60-85 F
Full sun to light shade
Minimum 6 hours daily for best bloom
18-24 inches apart
Allows for mature size (2-3 feet tall, 1.5-2 feet wide)
Well-draining soil; tolerates dry, rocky soil
Does not tolerate wet feet
pH 6.5-8.0
Water at planting
Water weekly for the first 4-6 weeks
Reduce once established
Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) is not commonly listed by the ASPCA toxicity database, so no verdict is available either way. The ASPCA lists scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) and common sage (Salvia officinalis) as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, but that does not confirm other Salvia species. Keep an eye on pets around any unlisted plant and discourage grazing.
