Ornamental sage can be found more and more often in perennial beds. A distinction is made between annual and perennial species with a wide variety of colors that can be easily combined with other perennials. Both types can be easily propagated.
Ornamental sage can be easily propagated from seeds
Worth knowing about ornamental sage
Ornamental sage likes to be sheltered from the wind in a sunny spot. The soil should be well drained and nutritious. Here it can unfold its violet, blue or even fiery red flowers wonderfully. It becomes very attractive when the ornamental sage is accompanied by delicate white or pink bush roses.
It blooms continuously from May/June to September/October and forms a veritable carpet of flowers in the ideal location.
Ornamental sage is a robust, grateful ornamental plant that is not affected by diseases or pests.
sage species
The following types of sage can be found in perennial gardens:
- the "Blue Hill", flowers pure blue, is 40 cm high
- the “Amethyst” has pink flowers, purple-violet stems and is also 40 cm high
- the “Caradonna” has dark violet flowers and is 60 cm high
Planting and propagation of ornamental sage
Ideally, ornamental sage is planted in early spring directly between other perennials or as a group in a separate bed. Since the sage grows bushy, there should be enough space for the plants. Each perennial gets an extra planting hole, then mixed soil is filled with compost and watered.
Ornamental sage is propagated by seeds or cuttings. With annual varieties, it is easier to try propagation from cuttings. To do this, cut off 15 cm long, unwoody shoots from a strong mother plant, remove the lower leaves and place the shoot in a pot with good potting soil. In a warm place and with regular watering, roots will develop by fall. A hardy sage variety can then be planted outdoors. The varieties that are not frost hardy remain in the warm house during the winter and only come outside in the spring.
The seeds of ornamental sage are sown in suitable pots in February/March. The pots remain in the warm apartment or in the heated greenhouse. When the first one or two pairs of leaves have grown, the young plants can be pricked out individually in separate pots. When no more night frosts are to be expected, around the beginning of May, the small sage plants are planted outdoors.