Worry is like a rocking chair, it's gives you something to do but gets you nowhere!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Foliage Follow Up -- Silver Sage, Salvia Argentea

Pam over at http://www.penick.net/digging/?p=11020 hosts Foliage Follow Up on the heels of Carol's GBBD over at http://maydreamsgardens.blogspot.com/ .

Today I am featuring yet another rescued plant from the shelves at Lowe's. Silver Sage, Salvia Argentea purchased for a whopping dollar a piece, I brought home the last four they had in November.

It is most enjoyed for it's downy-silver rosettes and the fact that it is not fussy about soil. It does prefer the soil to be well drained and located in full sun. 1/2 inch to 1 inch of water per week once established is all it requires. If planted in part shade it will not have the beautiful silver color and will become more green.
It is seldom sold as a potted plant, score!
It can grow up to 4ft. tall and equally as wide.
Propagating: In it's second year most Silver Sage produce off-shoots, little exact replicas of the parent plant. Dig up and re plant. It also flowers in the second year, similar to salvia with flower stalks white, pale pink or yellowish. If flowers are allowed to fade and the seed ripens most Silver Sage will die believing it's life cycle is over. Cutting off the flower stalk before the flowers open will extend the life of the Silver Sage. Another choice would be to let the seeds ripen and fall where they may for self-sowing...or collect the seed and sow where you would like them.

Cold Hardiness: 0 to -10F I have been most impressed with the size of the leaves. Already 6 inches long and quite a bit wider.
Prune off damaged leaves or if they are not growing in the direction you prefer. Not pictured, on one of mine the leaves are twisting a bit...I'm just watching to see what it does.
NON-EDIBLE
Hopefully I will have seed to share at the end of the season and maybe even some off-shoots.
Do you know my Silver Sage?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today I am Thankful for the challenge of encouraging rescued plants to keep growing!

34 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Wow Darla ~ What an unusual and wonderful looking plant. I'll look forward to seeing and reading more about it in your gardens. Having rescued plants survive is always a joy.

Happy Gardening ~ Happy Spring,

FlowerLady

tina said...

Definite score! It's a beauty!

Dave@TheHomeGarden said...

Very neat! It looks like a cross between sage, lamb's ear, and artemisia with a sprinkle of Dusty Miller. Obviously that can't be true but it makes for a cool looking plant.

Ami said...

Wow, what an interesting unusal plant! You are lucky to find it! I am also a frequent visitor of Lowes' clearance rack, and never saw this before :) Looking forward to seeing more about this plant in your future posts.

Pam/Digging said...

This is a salvia I have not tried yet, but now I'm tempted. Those fuzzy, silver leaves are wonderful. Thanks for showing it off!

Karen said...

Hi Darla, I'm not sure if it's the exact same plant or not, but I bought some seed for Salvia argentea 'Artemis' from Parks a few years ago and the resulting plants were amazingly fuzzy and huge. I still have a bunch of them self-seeding here and there, and with snow cover, they handled our cold winters quite well.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

I have not seen this before. Love those fuzzy leaves. Good luck. I hope it does well for you.

FabricandFlowers said...

I just found one. I need to find the just right spot. I appreciate your post. I had no idea about my find.

Becca's Dirt said...

Well that's rather unusual. Such big leaves and looks hairy. Can't wait to see what it does.

deb said...

I love rescuing plants fromt he clearance racks! Yours is a score! So unusual and cool, anxious to watch it's progression.
Have a great day!
*hugs*deb

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Darla, You do such a great job with those rescued plants from Lowe's.... NEAT!!!! Love the Silver Sage.

Hugs,
Betsy

imac said...

Darla, its a beauty.

Lona said...

Don't you just love those fuzzy leaves? I love them Darla. That is why I like my Lambs Ears so much is because of those fuzzy leaves. They have recovered so well for you.

Ruth Hiebert said...

THose leaves are unique and pretty.

Patsy said...

I have never seen it grow so large, very pretty.

George said...

Your rescued plants are really thriving. I like the closeup photos. The Silver Sage is beautiful.

Susie said...

I like the softness of this plant. Never have grown it before. I think it doesn't like to be too wet tho.

Toni - Signature Gardens said...

I think the close-up of your silver sage looks like a gray Shar Pei dog! Ha! Very cool plant!

Anonymous said...

I've successfully killed this plant more than once. Too much water. Yours looks perfect. I love it.

Ginger said...

Hey Darla! The package arrived today in great shape. We are so excited!! Thank you so much. Will do a post on the "family garden" soon and will be sure to give you credit.

Hope all is well!
Ginger

Unknown said...

I'm SO jealous! Like someone else above, I have killed silver sage more than once... and I do love it so. *pouts* (Maybe that's why?!)

Yours looks beautiful--thanks for sharing!

Cat said...

This is a new one Darla! It's so interesting and unique...love the leaf shape and texture.

Malar said...

Silver sage? Very unusual collection i guess!

Sandy said...

What a beautiful and unusual plant!
Thank you Darla for your prayers for my Daughter and Family... was very nice of you to leave me such a comment....
I need to go find "Silver Sage"...
Happy Spring
Sandy

Skeeter said...

I love Lowes Bargain Bin! I check it out before looking at any other plants. I have gotten some great bargains such as 6-packs of viola for .50! I was so excited about this bargain that I ended up with an entire flat for a mere $3.00... This sage reminds me of Rabbits Ear. Looks fuzzy and soft but with curly leaves. Neat looking plant...

Corner Gardener Sue said...

No, I don't know that plant, but it sure is a beauty! It makes up for the bowl of cereal with greenish milk. ;o)

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I've never seen this plant. I really like it, the leaves remind me a little of Lamb's ear or lamb's sheep as my 4 year old calls it.

I just saw your bloom day post too, I cannot believe you have Cosmos blooming already!

Laura said...

Hi Darla-

Wow-
what an unusual plant.
I am a new follower-
and an addicted gardener!

Laura
White Spray Paint

Nat said...

This is a great plant, we grow it at the nursery and it's always quick to go. It flowers unusual white and purple curled flowers. Then it often dies on me. I have attempted to stop it from flowering but it doesn't seem to like that either. Perhaps a biannual that you rely on seeding for keeping it in your stock. Hasn't poked it's head up this spring, so I think it's gone... cool find!

Derrick Gerrero said...

I just found one. I need to find the just right spot. I appreciate your post. I had no idea about my find.

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