Salvia lyrata: Country Or Region Of Origin
Eastern and central United States
Plant Profile: Salvia lyrata
Taxonomy: Salvia lyrataNames
Cancer Weed, Lyreleaf Sage, Lyre-leaved Sage
Phonetic Spelling:SAL-vee-ah leer-RAY-tuh
Genus:Salvia
Species:lyrata
Family:Lamiaceae
Lyreleaf Sage is a perennial herb that typically reaches heights of 1 to 2 feet, featuring leaves that emerge from the base of the stem. The leaves are uniquely lobed, resembling a lyre, and are adorned with lavender flowers that bloom in circular clusters around the stem from mid-spring to early summer. Its compact growth, low stature, and ability to withstand mowing make it a superb alternative for lawns. Propagation can be achieved by gathering seeds before the capsules completely dry or through root division.
Fire Risk: This plant is rated with medium flammability.
Seasons of Interest:
- Bloom: Spring, Summer
- Fruit/Seed/Nut: Summer
For additional details on Salvia, please refer to the provided resources.
Tags
#hummingbirds
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#blue
#drought tolerant
#perennial
#wildlife plant
#purple flowers
#nectar plant
#lawn alternative
#spring flowers
#herb garden
#cpp
#fire
#medium flammability
#NC native
#summer flowers
#deer resistant
#long bloom time
#spring interest
#native groundcover
#pollinator plant
#native wildflower
#wildflower garden
#food source summer
#hairy stems
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#nectar plant late spring
#groundcovers that can be mowed
#foot traffic tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#nectar plant mid-spring
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#Coastal FACU
#partial shade tolerant
#HS302
#flood tolerant
#pollinator garden
#audubon
#lawns
Similar Plants
Salvia lyrata Feature Summary
Attributes
Eastern and central United States
Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Lyreleaf sage is moderately resistant to deer.
Perennial
Seed
Division
Wildlife Food Source
medium flammability
Fruit
Flowers
1" bright blue, white or violet flowers in whorls along the upper part of the plant from April to May.
Purple/Lavender
White
Blue
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Spring
fused petals
Tubular
Trumpet
1-3 inches
Leaves
Small bract-like dark green leaves veined with purple; basal leaves are 3 to 8 in. long and stalked; may have wavy toothed margins or pinnate lobes.
Deciduous
Green
Purple/Lavender
Simple
Rosulate
Lobed
> 6 inches
Stem
Simple or sparingly branched stems; hairy
Square
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Native Plant
Wildflower
Herb
Ground Cover
Deciduous
Dense
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Occasional Flooding
3 feet-6 feet
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Mass Planting
Drought
Deer
Heat
Wet Soil
Foot Traffic
Woodland
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Butterflies
Pollinators
Hummingbirds
Salvia lyrata Image Gallery
Salvia lyrata Attributes
Salvia lyrata: Wildlife Value
Flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Salvia lyrata: Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)
Lyreleaf sage is moderately resistant to deer.
Salvia lyrata: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Salvia lyrata: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Salvia lyrata: Play Value
Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer
Salvia lyrata: Fire Risk Rating
extreme flammability
high flammability
low flammability
medium flammability
Salvia lyrata Fruit
Salvia lyrata: Fruit Description
Tan. Blooms from May to July.
Salvia lyrata: Fruit Color
Cream/Tan
Salvia lyrata: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Salvia lyrata Flowers
Salvia lyrata: Flower Description
1" bright blue, white or violet flowers in whorls along the upper part of the plant from April to May.
Salvia lyrata: Flower Color
Blue
Purple/Lavender
White
Salvia lyrata: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Salvia lyrata: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Salvia lyrata: Flower Petals
2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals
Salvia lyrata: Flower Shape
Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel
Salvia lyrata: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Salvia lyrata Leaves
Salvia lyrata: Leaf Description
Small bract-like dark green leaves veined with purple; basal leaves are 3 to 8 in. long and stalked; may have wavy toothed margins or pinnate lobes.
Salvia lyrata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Salvia lyrata: Leaf Color
Green
Purple/Lavender
Salvia lyrata: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Salvia lyrata: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Salvia lyrata: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Salvia lyrata: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Salvia lyrata: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Salvia lyrata Stem
Salvia lyrata: Stem Description
Simple or sparingly branched stems; hairy
Salvia lyrata: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Salvia lyrata: Stem Cross Section
Angular
Oval
Round
Square
Salvia lyrata: Stem Surface
Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)
Salvia lyrata Whole Plant Traits
Salvia lyrata: 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 lyrata: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Salvia lyrata: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Salvia lyrata: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Salvia lyrata Cultural Conditions
Salvia lyrata: 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 lyrata: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Salvia lyrata: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Salvia lyrata: 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 lyrata: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Salvia lyrata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
Salvia lyrata: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Salvia lyrata Landscape
Salvia lyrata: 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 lyrata: 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 lyrata: 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 lyrata: 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
Salvia lyrata: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
