Mossy sage(Salvia nemorosa) is one of the most famous perennials with a wide decorative use. Thanks to its soaring inflorescences, ease of cultivation and the availability of interesting varieties, this plant is more and more often found in our gardens. Find out whatcultivating sage in the gardenlooks like, and how to trim the sage so that it blooms beautifully and for a long time. Get to know the most interestingvarieties of mossy sageand the best ways to breed it.
Mossy sage - Salvia nemorosa
Fig. depositphotos.com
Mossy sage - description and application
Mossy sage(Salvia nemorosa) is a perennial of the Lamiaceae family, occurring in a natural state almost all over Europe and in Western Asia. It grows on dry meadows, steppes, roadside roads and crop failures.
Elliptical leaves with a densely mossy lower side of the blade and a notched edge form dense rosettes, from which in late spring grow long ears of blue, purple, pink or white dorsal flowers.The flowering date for mossy sagedepends on the variety and is between May and October. The plant reaches 60-80 cm in height and forms clumps which, depending on the variety, may be compact or loose. As a honey plant, mossy sage attracts butterflies and pollinating insects to the garden.
Mossy sage is a versatile plant , which works well both in the ground (flower beds, borders, rockeries, walls) and in containers.It looks impressive when planted in larger groups in the company of other flowering perennials or conifers. Mossy sage goes well with plants such as: roses, carnations, primrose, algae, coneflower, daylilies, scarlet lobelia, spikelet and ornamental grasses.
Mossy sage - varieties
Many varieties of mossy sageare available in garden stores, which vary in shape, height, flowering time and color of flowers. The most interesting varieties of mossy sage recommended for amateur cultivation in gardens and balconies are presented in the table below.
Download this table in a printable version:
- Decorative varieties of mossy sage (PDF)
Mossy sage - cultivation
Mossy sage prefers warm and sunny positionsand permeable, fairly dry and fertile soil, preferably alkaline.This plant does not tolerate compact, loamy, heavy soil and reacts very badly to flooding the roots. It tolerates drought well.
In garden cultivation, mossy sage is not demandingThe plants should be planted 30x30 cm apart. Newly planted sage must be watered regularly. Adult specimens do not require irrigation, unless the weather conditions are extremely dry. Excessive drying of the substrate affects the quality of sage inflorescences.
Mossy sage in the garden
Fig. reniap, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Sage responds well to strong pruningIf done after the first flowering, we will stimulate the plant to sprout new shoots and to bloom again in the fall. Toprolong the flowering of mossy sage , it is worth removing the dying inflorescences on a regular basis, and when the plant has bloomed - remove all remaining inflorescences.
Mossy sage planted next to the rose
Fig. depositphotos.com
If we planted sage in rich soil, we do not need to fertilize it additionally. However, on weaker, permeable soil, it is worth doingfertilizing mossy sageLong-acting fertilizer will work, and divide the recommended dose into 2 parts, using them at 2-week intervals. Natural fertilizers such as compost and vermicompost are also noteworthy, as they not only nourish the plant, but also improve the soil structure.
Mossy sage is a frost-resistant plant(plant frost resistance zone 5), however, young specimens should be protected against severe frost by covering them with agrotextile or tunics.
Red sage - reproduction
Sage reproductioncan be done in 3 ways:
Division of mature plants- sage can grow for many years in the same place, but despite good growing conditions, it begins to lose its attractive appearance after a few years, which means that it should be rejuvenated.The treatment is best carried out at the end of summer or very early spring, dividing the clump into smaller parts. You can take advantage of this moment and propagate the perennial by planting the cuttings formed after dividing them directly into a new place, or by planting them first on the seedbed, if they were not rooted sufficiently. More on this topic in the article Perennial reproduction by division.
Mossy sage
Fig. AnRo0002, CCO, Wikimedia Commons
Shoot cuttings of mossy sage- another way to reproduce sage is to take shoot cuttings. For this purpose, at the end of spring (May-June), take a seedling from a he althier plant with a heel. The seedling should be approx. 10 cm long. After removing the lower leaves, immerse the tip of the cuttings in the rooting agent, then plant it on the seedbed and, after rooting, plant it permanently. Before the first winter, it is recommended to cover them with, for example, wort or agrotextile.
Sowing sage seeds- seeds are sown directly into the ground in May or for a warm inspection. We do it in early spring or winter, but at the earliest at the turn of January and February. After germination, the young seedlings are picked into individual pots and kept in the inspection until mid-May. Plant the seedlings in moist soil and water them regularly.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
