Salvia napifolia
Turkish sage
S. napifolia is a herbaceous perennial, to about 75cm tall, producing basal clumps of toothed, hairy, heart-shaped leaves, and upright flowering stems bearing whorls of mid blue-purple flowers with darker purple bracts in summer
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- Turkey
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained soil and full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds
Propagation
Propagate by seed, or take basal stem cuttings in late spring; stem-tip cuttings in late summer or in early autumn or propagate by division in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
No pruning required; cut down flower spikes when finished
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids, capsid bug, leafhoppers and rosemary beetle
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.