General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Dry
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 24 - 36 inches
Plant Spread: 24 - 30 inches
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Evergreen
Fragrant
Other: Silver/gray; Rubbery;
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Lavender
Other: Lavender-blue with rosy-purple bracts
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Other: Deadheading flowers ensures more flowering throughout the season.
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Provides winter interest
Erosion control
Will Naturalize
Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Drought tolerant
Awards and Recognitions: Other: 2005 Plant Select® Winner

Image
Common names
  • Giant Flowered Purple Sage
  • Mojave Sage
  • Rose Sage
  • Mountain Desert Sage
  • Salvia
  • Blue Sage

Giant Flowered Purple Sage (Salvia pachyphylla) was a featured
Plant of the Day for April 24, 2016.
Photo Gallery

photo credit: Dick Culbert
Photo by pbshiroma
Location: My garden in southeast Nebraska
Date: 2012-05-29
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2013-06-29
Location: western Oregon
Date: summer 2014
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2014
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2013-06-29
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2013-06-29
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2013-09-21
Comments:
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Mar 31, 2013 2:24 AM concerning plant:
    Salvia pachyphylla is one Salvia that I've wanted to plant in my garden for years. I got one small pot of it last April from High Country Gardens and planted it. The wild rabbits chewed it up in no time. When my sister, who's living in Colorado, offered to bring me a small pot of it when she came for Mother's Day, I said yes! Because of the rabbit damage, I decided to pot it up into a one-gallon pot and let it sit for a few months, hoping it would do ok, get a lot larger and the scent would become overpowering enough that the rabbits would leave it alone. It didn't flower last year because I waited awhile to plant it, but the rabbits have left it alone! It bloomed in 2013 and the flowers are beautiful! I'm so happy I have it and that it's doing great!

    The word "Giant" refers to the bloom, not the height. It needs excellent, well-draining sandy soil and lots of sun. This Salvia is native to California.

    Giant Flowered Purple Sage (Salvia pachyphylla) is a 2001 introduction from High Country Gardens.
Plant Events from our members
MrsBinWY On May 26, 2021 Transplanted
1 in bed on west side of garage, next to 'Orange Electric' Asiatic Lilies
MrsBinWY On March 17, 2021 Seeds germinated
observed 1st radical; potted it up on 3-18-2021; another one on 3-20-2021(the second one didn't produce cotyledons)
MrsBinWY On March 13, 2021 Seeds sown
10 seeds (all) on coffee filter @ room temp - These are some of the original seeds from Alplains that I sent to Danita that she gifted back to me Smiling :)
MrsBinWY On February 25, 2018 Seeds sown
last 9 seeds from Alplains; warm room temp
MrsBinWY On February 21, 2018 Seeds germinated
rewetted container from 2017 on 2-18-18; put in warm room temp; observed 1 seedling on 2-21; pricked out & potted up on 2-22-18
MrsBinWY On January 26, 2017 Seeds germinated
MrsBinWY On January 14, 2017 Seeds sown
Milk jug, cool room temp, seeds from Alplains, 9
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