Growing Guide
 
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Clary Sage, Annual

Annual Flower

Salvia viridis
Lamiaceae Family
Synonym: Salvia horminum

Dense and colorful, this plant demands attention with its large, long-lasting, dark-veined floral bracts in shades of pink, purple, and white. Thrives in warm weather.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
  • part shade

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers moist but well-drained soil.

Special locations:

  • outdoor containers
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: moderately difficult

Height: 1.5 to 2 feet

Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

  • early summer
  • mid-summer
  • late summer
  • early fall
  • mid-fall

Flower is insignificant. Color comes from floral bracts, which provide a noticeable texture variation.

Flower color:

  • violet
  • white
  • pink

"Flowers" come in pastel shades of pink, white and purple, and all have darker colored veins marking their surfaces.

Foliage color:

  • medium green
  • dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: flower stalks with upright spikes

Flower spikes are tall and rise above the foliage.

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • deer resistant
  • non-aggressive - Self-seeds some, but seldom a problem.
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to Southern Europe.
  • fragrant - Foliage has a strong, pleasant fragrance.
Special uses:
  • cut flowers
  • dried flowers - Cut and dry flower spikes in well-ventilated areas for use in arrangements.
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Sow seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost.

Germination temperature: 65 F to 70 F

Days to emergence: 14

Maintenance and care:
Remove dead flowers to prevent self-sowing if desired.

More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Varieties
‘Claryssa’ series: dense, 1 ˝’ tall plants with flowers in shades of blue, purple, or pink.