What is a sage plant?
What is its scientific name?
Which kinds of sage are found in Arizona, and are they the same as culinary sage?
Sage plants are herbs that grow into small shrubs when given the proper conditions for growth. They sometimes flower, depending on the type of sage, and some of them can be edible.
The scientific genus of sage is Salvia, and each individual type has a different species name. For example, Arizona sage is called Salvia arizonica, while the type of sage used for cooking is called Salvia officinalis.
In Arizona, you can find a variety of sage plants, including Arizona sage, deep blue sage, white sage, and common or garden sage. You can also find autumn sage, which blooms in the fall.
Read through the article below to find out more about how to grow these sage plants when you live in Arizona.
Growing Sage Plants in Arizona
1. Which areas are best for sage plant growth?
- Arizona sage needs bright, full sunlight for best results.
- Most types of sage can be grown in almost any type of soil, even poor quality soil, as long as they have enough drainage.
- Keep sage out of full shade locations and away from places where they may catch a lot of water runoff, such as at the bottom of an incline or near a gutter.
2. What kind of soil do you need, and should you fertilize it?
- You can grow sage in almost any type of soil. Just make sure it is well-draining so your plant doesn’t get root rot.
- You do not have to fertilize sage plants, but you can. Fertilizer won’t hurt your sage, but it is not required. If you do fertilize your plant, do not use chemical fertilizers that are harmful to the environment.
3. Can you grow these sage plants in containers or indoors?
- Culinary sage can easily be grown in containers or grown indoors. This type of sage is perfect for an indoor herb garden.
- Other varieties of sage should be grown outside, although it is possible to start them in containers and transplant them when the time comes.
4. How big are mature sage plants, and are they invasive?
- Most species of sage plants that can be grown in Arizona may reach up to one foot in height and up to two feet in width. However, some can get a bit larger than this, while others may remain smaller.
- Mediterranean sage is considered invasive. Other types of sage are not.
5. Do these plants have flowers and when do they bloom?
- Yes, most sage plants flower, although they may not have blooms for the whole year.
- The time of year when sage flowers varies depending on the type of sage in question. However, Arizona sage usually flowers from mid-summer to mid-autumn.
6. Do these plants attract any insects?
- Arizona species of sage attract honeybees, wasps, butterflies, and bumblebees. All of these pollinators are extremely important to the environment, so sage plants make a great addition to a pollinator garden.
- These plants also attract hummingbirds, which can further contribute to your local pollinator populations.
7. Are these sage plants prone to diseases?
- Most sage plants are extremely hardy and are not prone to disease.
- With that said, however, these plants can suffer from root rot very easily. To prevent this, make sure you are not overwatering your plant, and always keep it in a well-draining location.
8. How can you propagate a sage plant?
- Cut stems from the lower parts of the plant just above a “knuckle” of growth.
- Place these stems in some clean water and keep them on a windowsill for a couple of weeks. Change the water periodically during this time.
- When the plant has formed roots, it can be planted in dirt and further grown from there.
9. What are some pros of growing sage in Arizona?
- Sage plants grow well in Arizona as long as you choose a variety that enjoys a desert climate. These plants are hardy and can handle several environmental changes in the Arizona area.
- Sage plants that can grow well in Arizona are drought tolerant, which means you don’t have to worry about keeping them watered when you’re dealing with drought in your region.
- When kept in the right conditions and provided plenty of bright light, these plants can grow beautiful flowers that add splashes of color throughout your landscaping. They are excellent additions to xeriscaping environments for this reason.
10. What are some cons?
- Sage bushes need to be pruned, which can be a difficult task for some individuals, and which can become costly if outsourced to a professional pruning company.
- These plants may be difficult to establish, which can make them off-putting to beginners who do not have much experience with growing flowering bushes.
Conclusion
Were you able to learn everything you wanted to know about growing sage plants in your Arizona lawn or garden? With the help of the information in the article above, you should be prepared to tackle your sage plant plans in no time.
Here are some images to help you get inspired with your own sage plants.
1. Arizona Sage
This picture shows a close-up of the delicate purple flowers of an Arizona sage plant. It shows the flowers growing on long, thin stalks and showcasing their beautiful rich violet color. These flowers are also accented with a little bit of pale purple and white in their centers.
2. Sage Landscaping
This image shows how sage bushes can be used in landscaping. It shows an Arizona garden with plenty of desert-inspired shapes and colors, along with a gravel substrate and rock accents. The centerpiece of the image is the bright purple sage bush, with a few other sage bushes present in the background of the picture, too.
3. Perennial Sage
This image shows a different type of purple sage that can be grown in the desert. It features bright green foliage and long, tall clusters of rich purple flowers. It is thick with flowers all over, giving it a full appearance throughout the bush.
4. Arizona Blue Sage
This sage is a little bit different from the others in these images, in that it only has a few small flowers and is mostly made up of bright yellow-green leaves. The flowers that are present are light blue to purple and are growing on tall stalks that stick up out of the plant.
5.Favorite Fall Plant
This image shows autumn sage bushes growing around the base of a tree in a desert garden. The bushes include deep green foliage as well as bright pink flowers throughout the plants. The flowers and foliage work well together to bring a pop of color to any part of a lawn or garden.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways you can incorporate sage into your desert landscaping. With the help of these pictures for some inspiration, you can find new and exciting ways to grow sage in your yard and use it for a variety of aesthetic needs too.