Salvia indica



Plant Characteristics
Habit   herbaceous

Height: 24 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 24. to 40 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 40.
Width: 24 in"in" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 24.
Lifespan: perennial
Bloom: early spring, mid spring, late spring
Cultivation
Exposure: sun
Features: flowers
USDA Zones: 9 to 11
Flower features: blue, purple
Scientific Names

Lamiaceae >

Salvia >

indica >


Salvia indica is a species of herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the family Lamiaceae. It is native to a wide region of Western Asia that includes Palestine, Iraq, Iran and Turkey. It was first described by the taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1753.[1][2][3] It is unknown why he gave it the specific epithet indica, since the plant is not from India. While Salvia indica is classified as a herbaceous perennial, in cultivation individual plants often live no longer than two years.[4]

The native habitat of Salvia indica includes rocky limestone slopes between 350 to 5000 feet in elevation, where it flowers in April and May.[5] The plant has an erect and stately habit, forming a clump of rich grassy-green, ovate leaves with scalloped margins. The leaves are covered in long, soft, straight hairs. Inflorescences are composed of specialized flowering stems growing from the plant's center, some two to four feet high. Widely spaced whorls of four to six flowers open slowly from the inflorescence. Individual flowers are two-lipped, with the one inch upper lip a shiny bright lilac color. The stubby lower lip has a trough with purple and brown spots on a white background. The flowers stay in bloom for quite a long time, nearly one month. The plant is typically propagated by seed, with seedlings often appearing near the plant.[4]

In the garden, the plant prefers full sun, loamy soil, and good drainage. After flowering the plants need very little moisture. It can survive temperatures down to 20 F. for brief periods.[4]

Cultivation

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