Tricolor Sage
Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor'
Ornamental herb with green leaves and white, pink and purple markings. Blue flower spikes that bloom in summer. Use in roasting pork or lamb, poultry, fish, egg salad, vegetables, stuffings, bean and lentil soups and in marinades.
| Key feature: | Dramatic Foliage Color |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden style: | Cottage |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Herbaceous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 5 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Clumps to 18 inches tall, to 24 inches wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Dramatic Foliage Color, Edible, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Container, Firescaping/Fire Wise |
| Flower color: | Blue |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Multicolored |
| Item no.: | 7595 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Prune old flowers to encourage reblooming. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
This variegated form of culinary sage is a useful accent color in ornamental gardens. Plant in mixed borders for a bright injection of color. It's super well adapted to rock gardens where it thrives amidst other plants that prefer express drainage. It is beautiful in a Mediterranean scheme with species that originate in southern Europe. Great idea for improving too-gray foliage of xeriscape themes. Belongs in kitchen and herb gardens for useful harvest. A lovely perennial for very small garden spaces and urban parterres. Plants are particularly noteworthy in terra cotta pots and troughs.
History
Salvia was classified in the mint family, Labiatae, by Linnaeus in the 18th century. Although similar, this group of plants is not the sagebrush, Artemisia. The genus contains over 750 different species herbs and subshrubs from quasi-arid climates around the world. They are distinguished for their aromatic oils used for centuries in kitchen, lab and barn. This is a brightly colored form of the species, S. officinalis is the oldest cultivated form as the herb of seasoning and healing. It is listed in all the old English herbals.
Ornamental herb with green leaves and white, pink and purple markings. Blue flower spikes that bloom in summer. Use in roasting pork or lamb, poultry, fish, egg salad, vegetables, stuffings, bean and lentil soups and in marinades.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Prune old flowers to encourage reblooming. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
This variegated form of culinary sage is a useful accent color in ornamental gardens. Plant in mixed borders for a bright injection of color. It's super well adapted to rock gardens where it thrives amidst other plants that prefer express drainage. It is beautiful in a Mediterranean scheme with species that originate in southern Europe. Great idea for improving too-gray foliage of xeriscape themes. Belongs in kitchen and herb gardens for useful harvest. A lovely perennial for very small garden spaces and urban parterres. Plants are particularly noteworthy in terra cotta pots and troughs.
History
Salvia was classified in the mint family, Labiatae, by Linnaeus in the 18th century. Although similar, this group of plants is not the sagebrush, Artemisia. The genus contains over 750 different species herbs and subshrubs from quasi-arid climates around the world. They are distinguished for their aromatic oils used for centuries in kitchen, lab and barn. This is a brightly colored form of the species, S. officinalis is the oldest cultivated form as the herb of seasoning and healing. It is listed in all the old English herbals.
| Key feature: | Dramatic Foliage Color |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden style: | Cottage |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Herbaceous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 5 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Clumps to 18 inches tall, to 24 inches wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Dramatic Foliage Color, Edible, Waterwise |
| Landscape uses: | Container, Firescaping/Fire Wise |
| Flower color: | Blue |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Multicolored |
| Item no.: | 7595 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is All-Purpose Plant Food.view soil products