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Hollinshead Water-wise Garden Plants

Photo:
Pat Kolling

Taxon ID#

81

Showy late spring blooming native with silver foliage and blue flowers pushing out from mid-purple bracts.

Scientific  Name:

Salvia dorrii

Common Name 1

› Sage

Family:

Lamiaceae

Origins:

It is native to mountain areas in the western United States and northwestern Arizona, found mainly in the Great Basin Range habitat and southward to the Mojave Desert, growing in dry, well draining soils

Plant Type:

Small Shrub (usually < 1.5' and not >3')
Common Name 2

› Desert Sage

Common Name 3

Oregon native:

yes

Western state native:

yes

Scroll down for more information on each topic

Plant Maintenance Information

Landscape Application Information

Seasonal Care

Resource Links

MAINTENANCE

Maintenance Level:

Low

Min. USDA Hardiness Zone:

5

Sun Preference:

Full Sun

Water Preference:

L

Soil Preference:

Sandy, rocky, or limestone soil

Fertilizer Needs:

Low fertility soil

Recommended Mulch:

In colder USDA zones (zone 6 and below) it is essential to give Native Southwestern and Southwestern hybrids protection from the extreme cold their first couple winters in the garden. Mound up pine needles or fallen autumn leaves over and around the base

PLANT DESCRIPTION

Foliage Color:

Other

Foliage Description:

Aromatic foliage; leaves are opposite, oval, widest at tip and taper to the stem. They have a smooth margin, and silver grey.

Fragrant:

no

Predominant flower color:

Purple

Flower Description:

Showy terminal clusters blue to purple

Fall color:

no

Fall Color Description:

Winter Foliage:

Evergreen

Winter Interest:

no

Winter Interest Description:

Leaves are retained on the plant in winter months

Mature height:

8-32"

Mature spread:

2-3'

Growth rate:

Medium

LANDSCAPE APPLICATION

Deer Resistant:

yes

Fire Resistant:

no

Attracts Pollinators:

yes

Attracts Butterflies:

yes

Native Habitat:

Dry, open scabland & sagebrush areas

Attracts Birds:

yes

Cut/Dried Flowers:

no

Used by Wildlife:

no

Swales:

no

Wildlife Use:

Purple sage is undesirable as forage to both livestock and wildlife. Attracts hummingbirds

Photo:
Kathy Ketchum

Hedge/Screen:

no

Border:

yes

Erosion Control:

yes

Windbreak:

no

Ground Cover:

no

Provides Shade:

no

Rock Garden:

yes

Cover Structures:

no

First Bloom:

May

Last Bloom:

Adds Texture/Movement:

Jul

Ornamental Accent:

yes

no

Garden Observations:

Plant struggled in 2021; pruned back dead stems heavily & it responded well.

Application
Anchor 1

SEASONAL CARE

Spring Care:

Summer Care:

Prune lightly after flowering.

Fall Care:

Wait to cut back the plants until spring for improved cold hardiness.

Winter Care:

Long Term Care:

Most of the new growth dies back in the winter, though some persists and becomes woody (Strachan 1982). For this reason pruning of Salvia dorrii is not necessary in order to increase the number of
flowering branches. Pruning the lateral branches, however

Insect Pests:

Wildlife Pests:

Diseases:

Botrytis Blight, Downy Mildew, Impatiens Necrotic Spot. (https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=Salvia)

Environmental Problems:

Landscape Problems:

Care Comments:

RESOURCES

OSU Landscape Profile:

USDA Plants:

Calscape Database:

LBJ Native Plant Database:

Missouri Botanical Garden Database:

Monrovia Profile:

Alternate Source 1:

Alternate Source 2:

Source Comment:

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