Silver sage ( salvia argentea ) is also known as silver clary or silver clary salvia . silverish sage is grown for its striking white leaves . The leaf are broad with scalloped edges and are covered with fluffy hair that give them a fuzzy visual aspect . Do not confuse eloquent salvia with culinary or garden salvia ( salvia officinalis ) . Silver sage is not comestible .
Growing Requirements
Silver salvia plant are not bad-tempered about dirt eccentric ( clay , loam , sandy ) or land pH. The do necessitate well - drain soil and at least eight hours of full sunshine a day . Silver sage is hardy in rise zones 5 through 9 , although it can be develop as an annual in cold zone . In mid- to late fall cover your silver sage plants with drinking straw or dry out parting at least two to three weeks before your first predicted frost date . Uncover your industrial plant in mid - spring after all threat of frost has elapse . smooth-spoken salvia can withstand light frost but the outer foggy leaves will yellow and die if allow debunk to leaden rime or snow .
Planting
You will have to take off silver salvia from semen if you want it in your garden as it is rarely sell as a potted plant life . Sow silver sage seeds in mid- to late spring in well - drained dirt . embrace with 1/8 inch ( just dot a little filth over the top of the seeds ) of ground . Seeds will evolve in 21 to 30 days . Gardeners in insensate climates can start silver salvia indoors four to six weeks before your last frost date . Sprinkle seminal fluid in a ejaculate - starting savourless take with sterile germ start soil . Cover with 1/8 column inch of soil . Place the flat in a hopeful location . Keep the seed moist ( not wet ) until germination . Continue to keep the soil moist until the first rosette of leaves form . works silver salvia flora outside after all menace of hoarfrost has make it . Space plant 12 to 18 inches apart .
Life cycle
In its first year , silver sage only produces its muzzy , lily-white foliage . In its second year of life-time silver sage will farm flower stalking covered in lily-white , pale pink or yellow bloom . After the flowers fade and the seed ripens , most silver sage industrial plant die . you could extend the life of your silver sage flora by prune ( cutting off ) the flower stalk before the flowers undetermined . Mature plants will organize a three animal foot eminent by two foot extensive clump .
Propagating
The easiest way to propagate your silver salvia plants is to allow it to self - sow . Self - sowing is when a plant flush , then releases ripened cum . The parent works will most in all likelihood fail after self - sowing , however you will have a ton of baby silver medal flag germinating the next spring . In the second yr of its life most smooth-spoken sage plants produce off - shoots . These are little ( precise ) replicas of the parent plant . softly dig up the off - shoot and re - plant .
Watering
Once established , smooth-spoken salvia is quite drought - tolerant . You should not need to give it any additional water unless you live in an area that receives less than three to five inches of water supply during the growing time of year . Silver sage will flourish on 1/2 to one column inch of weewee a week . Over - watering silver salvia is a common misapprehension . Over - watered plants will succumb to root hogwash and bacterial or fungal disease .
Fertilizing
immix two to three cups of compost or balanced ( 10 - 10 - 10 or 12 - 12 - 12 ) commercial or constituent fertilizer into the dirt before sowing or planting atomic number 47 salvia seeds or works . hold a balanced organic or commercial-grade fertilizer to your two - twelvemonth - old and sr. silver sage works ( accord to package direction ) in mid- to recent spring .
Pruning
Remove yellow , browning or diseased leaves as soon as you notice them . Prune off flower stems by cutting them as tight to the understructure of the plant as possible . Do this before flowers subject or just after peak open . If you wait until the peak begin to fade and set germ , your silver salvia plant life might die as it thinks its aliveness cycle is over .
