Gentian Sage (Salvia patens)
March 4, 2008 — Vasant M. SalianGentian Sage (Salvia patens) has one of the truest and bluest flowers in the plant world. A Mexican native, it is an herbaceous perennial that grows to between 45 and 60cm. Its flowers appear from mid-summer to autumn and are gentian blue, hence the common name. S. patens is unusual in the Salvia genus as it has tuberous roots, similar to another familiar Mexican native, the dahlia.
It is a tender perennial (hardy in Zones 8-10). In colder climates, it can be dug out of the ground in the fall and stored over winter for planting the next year, or grown as an annual.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Lamiales
Family : Lamiaceae
Genus : Salvia
Species : Salvia patens
Pronunciation/Meaning:
- Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ay) - The Mint family (from Lamium, the Latin name for dead nettle; used for the Mint family); formerly Labitae.
- Salvia (SAL-vee-uh) - Referring to helping, saving, healing.
- patens (PAT-ens) - Spreading.
Common Names:
- Gentian Sage, Salvia
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