HOURS:
Mon to Fri 8am - 6pm
Fri & Sat 8am - 8pm
Sun 8am - 7pm
LOCATION:
8546 Sun Valley Road
Anytown, USA  12345
CONTACT:
phone: 261.788.5500
fax: 261.787.0463
e-mail: info@successgc.com
UP AND COMING
Deer-Resistant Gardening
Master Gardener Dorothy Dupage shares her experiences creating a truly deer-resistant garden in this month's popular 'Garden Talk' installment...
VIEW

Plant Finder

perennial

Elmira Sage

Salvia microphylla 'Elmira'

Add To My Wish List

Elmira Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Elmira') at A Very Successful Garden Center

Elmira Sage flowers

Elmira Sage flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Elmira Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Elmira') at A Very Successful Garden Center

Elmira Sage in bloom

Elmira Sage in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  24 inches

Spacing:  3 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  7b

Other Names:  Baby Sage, Graham's Sage, Blackcurrant Sage

Description:

Elegant, white blooms with a very pale pink blush are borne above the fine green foliage; flowers over a long season; drought and heat tolerant, does well under various light conditions

Ornamental Features

Elmira Sage has masses of beautiful fragrant white flowers with shell pink overtones at the ends of the stems from mid spring to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its small pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Elmira Sage is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Elmira Sage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Elmira Sage will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 3 feet apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Elmira Sage is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Edging  Garden  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features