Salvia guaranitica

anise-scented sage

Lamiaceae

South America — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Salvia guaranitica is anise-scented sage (hummingbird sage), an upright perennial growing 36-60 inches (90-150 cm) tall and 24-36 inches (60-90 cm) wide. Deep cobalt-blue to violet-blue tubular flowers 2 inches (5 cm) long in terminal racemes. Dark to medium green rugose (wrinkled) ovate foliage 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long with an anise scent when bruised. Square stems. In the mint family (Lamiaceae spp.). The cobalt-blue flower color is rare among garden perennials. The tubular flowers are hummingbird-pollinated — the 2-inch (5 cm) corolla tube matches ruby-throated hummingbird bill length. Spreads by underground rhizomes — forms colonies over time. Tender perennial: root-hardy in zones 7-10 but top growth is killed by frost. In zones 7-8 the crown may not survive without 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) of winter mulch — the primary limitation in cold climates. Grown as an annual north of zone 7. Drought-tolerant once established. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic. Part sun to full sun. Growth rate is fast.

Native Range

Native to South America — Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay.

Suggested Uses

Grown in perennial borders, hummingbird gardens, and containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L). Hummingbird-pollinated. Cobalt-blue flowers. Spreads by rhizomes. Deer-resistant. Drought-tolerant. Zones 7-10 (annual north of zone 7). Perennial.

How to Identify

Identified by deep cobalt-blue to violet-blue tubular flowers 2 inches (5 cm) long in terminal racemes on an upright plant with dark green rugose ovate leaves that release an anise scent when bruised. Square stems (mint family). The cobalt-blue corolla color and the anise-scented foliage are diagnostic. In Lamiaceae spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 5'

Width/Spread2' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Summer to fall (July-October). Deep cobalt-blue to violet-blue tubular flowers 2 inches (5 cm) in terminal racemes. Hummingbird-pollinated. 16 weeks of bloom. Remove spent spikes to encourage continued flowering.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Deep cobalt-blue to violet-blue, tubular, 2 inches (5 cm) long, in terminal racemes; the cultivar 'Black and Blue' has a near-black calyx contrasting with the blue corolla

Foliage Description

Dark to medium green, ovate, rugose (wrinkled surface texture), 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long; anise-scented when bruised

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Part sun to full sun (4-8 hours). Well-drained soil pH 6.0-7.5. Tender perennial: zones 7-10. Mulch crown 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) for winter in zones 7-8. Spreads by rhizomes. Drought-tolerant once established. Deer-resistant. Non-toxic.

Pruning

Remove spent flower spikes to encourage continued bloom. Cut back to 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) after the first hard frost. Pinch tips in late spring to encourage branching. Mulch crown for winter in zones 7-8.

Pruning Schedule

late springfall

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 5 gallons

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic

Perennials