• Photo of Salvia argentea (Salvia argenteas)

Plant Profile: Salvia argentea

Taxonomy: Salvia argentea

Names

Silver Sage

  • Photo of Salvia argentea (Salvia argenteas)

Phonetic Spelling:SAL-vee-ah ar-jen-TAY-ah

Genus:Salvia

Species:argentea

Family:Lamiaceae

This biennial plant features large, woolly white leaves and tends to decline in health during hot weather and summer rainfall. It thrives in well-drained soil, so it's crucial to avoid overly wet conditions, particularly in winter. In its first year, the plant develops a rosette of leaves, while flowers emerge in the second growing season; however, the plant will die after flowering. To extend its lifespan, consider cutting back the flower stalks as they appear. If left to bloom, it will self-seed in the garden. Be aware that foliage may struggle in hot and humid climates, especially in areas south of zone 7a. Additionally, propagation can be achieved by removing lateral root shoots in the spring.

In terms of pests and diseases, slugs and snails can be problematic, along with issues like stem and root rot, powdery mildew, rust, and leaf spot.

For further details on Salvia, please refer to additional resources.

Salvia argentea Feature Summary

Salvia argentea Image Gallery

Tags

#white flowers
#silver leaves
#white leaves
#showy
#showy leaves
#herb garden
#cpp
#edging
#soft leaves
#nighttime garden
#night
#borders
#bedding plants
#hairy leaves
#container plants

Similar Plants

Salvia argentea Feature Summary

Attributes
Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Northern Africa
Biennial
Flowers
Early summer, white tinged with pink tubular hooded flowers whorled on a 2'-3' tall stem
Pink
White
Leaves
Downy, felt like large (8" long 6" wide) wrinkled leaves that form a rosette.
Green
Gray/Silver
White
> 6 inches
Soft
Velvety
> 6 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
12 inches-3 feet
Less than 12 inches
Landscape
Children's Garden
Garden for the Blind
Nighttime Garden
Drought
Deer
Dry Soil
Container
Small Space

Salvia argentea Attributes

Salvia argentea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Northern Africa

Salvia argentea: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Deer, drought, dry soil.

Salvia argentea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Salvia argentea: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Salvia argentea Flowers

Salvia argentea: Flower Description

Early summer, white tinged with pink tubular hooded flowers whorled on a 2'-3' tall stem

Salvia argentea: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
White

Salvia argentea: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Salvia argentea: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Salvia argentea: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Salvia argentea: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Salvia argentea Leaves

Salvia argentea: Leaf Description

Downy, felt like large (8" long 6" wide) wrinkled leaves that form a rosette.

Salvia argentea: Leaf Color

spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green
spa
White

Salvia argentea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Salvia argentea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Salvia argentea: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Salvia argentea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Salvia argentea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Salvia argentea: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Salvia argentea: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Salvia argentea: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Salvia argentea Whole Plant Traits

Salvia argentea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Salvia argentea: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Salvia argentea: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Salvia argentea Cultural Conditions

Salvia argentea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Salvia argentea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Salvia argentea: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Salvia argentea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Salvia argentea Stem

Salvia argentea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Salvia argentea Landscape

Salvia argentea: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Salvia argentea: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Salvia argentea: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Salvia argentea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland