The author of the text is Dr. Katarzyna Wróblewska
The smell of sage is appreciated not only in the kitchen, but also in our gardens, terraces and balconies. However, their use is mainly determined by their attractive appearance. The genus Salvia sage is the largest genus of the Lamiaceae family. It includes about 700 species found in almost all regions of the world.Most of them grow in tropical and subtropical regions, but many can also be found in Europe.Even in Poland, they grow approx.ten.
Decorative benefits of sage
The ornament of sage are characteristic double-lip flowers, often very showy. In the Peruvian species, Salvia dombeyi are 12 cm long! Until recently, only one species of sage was actually cultivated for decorative purposes - the one-year-old shiny sage Salvia splendens. Its red inflorescences adorned flower beds in cities and resortsFew people know that in Brazil, the homeland of the species, flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.These sage flowers are not only decorated with crowns, they are also intensely colored goblets of flowers.
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Szałwia Otwarta Salvia patens (Photo: Fotolia.com) |
In the last decade, more and more new species of sage, both annual and perennial, are gaining in importance.In addition to shiny sage, among the annual sage species, Salvia farinacea soaked sage with slender, narrow ears, covered with white hair, purple or white, is grown more and more. Plants of this species grow up to 60-80 cm in height. Another one-year-old species, S. viridis, syn. S. horminum with inflorescences decorated with colored, pink, purple or white, clearly veined bracts. The scarlet sage S. coccinea is also worth mentioning.
Recently, new varieties of this species from the Sallynia series have been introduced to the market, recommended for container cultivation.Their flowers have different colors - from white, through salmon, to various shades of red.Perennial sage S. offcinalis varieties are often grown in containers as ornamental annuals. The elongated, delicately wrinkled leaves of this species can have a different color - from purple feathered (Purpurascens variety) to mottled ('Aurea', 'Tricolor').Plants of this species can winter in the ground under cover. In summer, they will enchant you with purple, raised inflorescences.
Perennial sage species
Perennial sage species are very valuable garden plants. The most famous among them is the mossy sage S. nemorosa.Plants growing up to 80 cm tall can be planted in flowerbeds or borders, but the greatest impression will be when planted in a larger group.Mossy sage also fits beautifully with other species with slender inflorescences, e.g. lobelia scarlet Lobelia cardinalis, Agastache spikelets or other sages - red-flowered sage Roemera S. roemeriana 'Arriba' and pink S. x superba 'Marlau Rose' - the interpenetration of the two colors on the flowerbed gives the impression that it was painted by an impressionist painter. Less known is our native meadow sage S. pratensis, which is perfect for a flower meadow.
Among the perennial sage there are also many less known delicacies. Here you can mention the impressive, showy clary sage growing up to 1.2 m in heightS. sclareawith tricolor pastel inflorescences.Thanks to essential oils with the scent of a knob nutmeg can be added to food, alcohol and cosmetics.
The decoration of Salvia patens open sage are large blue flowers. It is a species that may freeze in our climatic conditions, therefore in regions with milder climates it should overwinter under cover, while in other regions it is better to cultivate it as a plant that does not hibernate in the ground - open sage forms root tubers that can be dug up in autumn and stored for winter. indoors, as do dahlia carp.The rare, but charming small-flower sage is also interesting.Planted more densely, it will be a very effective ground cover plant.
Soil and position
Sage, due to its unrefined requirements and abundant and long flowering, should be used in gardens as often as possible. Most of them have similar habitat requirements: they prefer lighter, drier soils and sunny positions.Annual species bloom throughout the season, perennials usually start flowering in the second half of the 20th century. May and bloom until July.
After pruning, they resume flowering in late summer. In addition to some species that are sensitive to low winter temperatures, they are easy to grow and reliable. You can create plantings from them, without fear that they will fall out and leave empty spaces.
