I bought Mountain sage at the Arlington native plant sale over a year ago. The garden site and the NPIN site says it needs shade so that is where its been. I see on here that it likes sun. Mine has not done anything and is this why? I think thats the plant I bought and I am sure thats what the 2 sites recomend for it. Who grows mountain sage and under what conditions.
Cheryl
Salvia regla question
Cheryl I have Mountain Sage http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=SARE4
and in my garden and it has not performed well.
I have it in a shady area with many trees surrounding it and it has bloomed but very little, also one of the things about it is that it blooms very late in the year, about the same time as the asters.
I have planted some in the front yard, to see if the location will be better, still in mostly shade but more light, we shall see what happens.
I am beginning to think that it doesn't like all the heat we have been having lately although I have watered it regularly. I don't know what the temperature ranges in the Chisos mountains where it originates from, but I have a feeling that it is a lot cooler there.
In any event, it is so lovely that it is worth working with in order to find the best conditions for it.
Some DGers have it listed in plant files as wanting more sun. I wonder if it would be happier in more sun. Some even list it as full to part sun so I am not sure what to try. I might put into a pot in morning sun to see if it lives. Mine is tiny and very unhappy right now.
C
If it came out of the Chisos Mountain area, check 'aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/sages' they have done a lot of documenting soil ph and conditions that will help, and a LOT of the stuff in that area is needing of alkaline ph...
/salvias, I mean.
I have Salvia regla and usually it does very well for me. This year it's healthy, but "stunted." I don't think it needs extra water, because like I said, it's healthy. But I think the really hot June and August temps stopped its growth. It does like sunshine. Mine gets morning and early afternoon sun. It should start to bloom later this month.
I'm with Josephine, this is a plant that is worth the extra effort. During "normal" years (when it has all the sunshine it wants) you don't need to do anything with this plant. It will grow just fine and bloom like crazy. And hummingbirds love the blooms.
Carla
Loonie, do you have it in full sun then? Does it get watered along with other non-desert plants?
C
Cheryl, my Salvia regla gets morning and early afternoon sun. I've got it planted next to a Mexican Firebush and treat them both the same (with very little extra watering).
Carla