There are more than 900 species of Salvia, mostly from Southern USA, Central and South America. This attractive species grows wild in South Africa’s south western Cape, and has bright blue flowers during the long hot summers. Salvia chamelaeagnea is well adapted to survive fires, which regularly sweep though the local vegetation, by resprouting from its woody rootstock.
The Blue Haze Sage forms a dense shrub, growing almost 2 metres high, with many strong, upright stems The bright green leaves are slightly hairy and sometimes the edges are toothed. The leaves are dotted with glands which emit a very strong scent when touched. The flowers are formed in whorls any time between November and May. The flower varies in colour from blue, to light mauve. It is a tough and easy plant to grow that will perform well in any well drained and sunny part of the garden. Give a light trim and feed with Osmocot Slow Release in mid to late spring.
Salvia chamelaeagnea will performwell as a hedge or a mass planting. It can be used as a background hedge to a garden of flowering perennials, as a border to a long driveway. Also looks good as a centre piece to a low growing garden of Hellebore, Heuchera, Viola and Hosta. Plant en masse with Salvia coahuilensis, Salvia corrugate, Salvia discolour and Salvia ‘Lime Calyx’for a stunning display of color and form.
