Salvia patens Seeds - Gentian Sage

Sensitive to frost, this beautiful sage, also called Salvia patens, is a tuberous perennial of Mexican origin is often grown as an annual in our climates. Still the incredible true blue colour to which it's name Gentian Sage pertains to, of its large, typically shaped flowers fully justifies growing it in any garden. The blooms of this sage brings out and energizes beds, while its resistance to heat and drought make it an ideal candidate for containers. It shows rapid growth and prefers rich, well-drained soils and full sun.

Salvia patens is a plant of the Lamiaceae family, like all other sage plants. It is a perennial with an upright growth habit that reaches 60 to 80 cm high and 45 cm wide. Its stems bear large, opposite, pubescent, triangular, green leaves. It flowers in the first year from seed. The inflorescences appear from July to October, but it is in September that it flowers the most. The flowers are grouped in clusters, at the tips of the apical stems. The flowers are 2-3 cm long and are rather large compared to those of most other sage. They are arranged in pairs along the stem, and display an intense, pure 'true blue' colour that can be seen from far away. The flowers are nectar-rich and melliferous, providing nourishment for numerous foraging insects. The root of Salvia patens from which it develops, is thick and tuberous. It is self-seeds easily in light, well-drained soil. 

Gentian sage is an ideal plant for sunny flowerbeds. The blue colour of its flowers blends well with the intensely pink flowers of Salvia microphylla, whose beauty climaxes in September. It can also be interesting to combine it with asters and grey foliages (Armoise, Senecio vira-vira...) that require rather similar growing conditions.