The steppe sage (bot. Salvia nemorosa) belongs in every herbaceous bed. The easy-care mint family with its tightly upright growing flower candles is a tireless, continuous bloomer that can often even be persuaded to produce a second bloom by cutting back close to the ground. In addition, the aromatic, nectar-rich flowering plant is an important food plant for bees and butterflies.
What is special about steppe sage?
The steppe sage (Salvia nemorosa) is an aromatic, nectar-rich ornamental plant that attracts bees and butterflies. The easy-care perennial blooms between June and July, and if pruned after the first flowering even until September. Ideal for sunny borders, rock or prairie gardens and as a rose companion.
Origin and spread
In contrast to the real sage (bot. Salvia officinalis), which comes from the Mediterranean region, the steppe sage (bot. Salvia nemorosa), also known as ornamental sage or flowering sage, is a purely ornamental plant. The pretty, rather low-growing perennial blooms beautifully and smells very intensely, but it is not edible and cannot be used as a medicinal plant. However, it impresses with its long-lasting blooms and is an important food plant for bees and butterflies due to its abundance of nectar.
The steppe sage is widespread between Russia and Europe, where it is primarily at home in dry meadows, along roadsides and - as the name suggests - in the vast steppe landscapes. The plant can also be found in higher mountain areas.
Usage
The steppe sage is particularly effective as a gap filler or foreground plant in sunny borders. The plant, which often forms wide cushions, feels particularly at home in rock or prairie gardens, where it can be combined very well with other herbs and perennials as well as ornamental grasses. Furthermore, the ornamental sage is considered a perfect companion for roses, especially since the flowering times of the two species coincide.
Appearance and growth
Botanically speaking, steppe sage belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Together with around 900 other species distributed almost all over the globe, it also forms the extremely species-rich genus of sage (bot. Salvia). The growth of the steppe sage is compact and comparatively low, with a height of between 20 and 60 centimeters - depending on the variety. The plants grow clumpy to bushy, although some varieties can form dense cushions. This perennial and hardy perennial also has a native rosette from which the shoots and leaves covered with numerous, short hairs grow upright.
leaves
The attractive green leaves of the ornamental sage, up to 18 centimeters long, have a lanceolate shape. Its edge has a slight toothing, the leaf blade is wrinkled to coarse.
Bloom and flowering time
Most varieties of steppe sage show their attractive flowers between June and July, which last for a very long time, averaging eight weeks. Some varieties of the so-called flowering sage, not without reason, start their flowering season from mid to late May. If you cut back the dead shoots, the ornamental sage will develop a second flower by September, the strength of which varies between the individual varieties. The tiny and usually very dense individual flowers are arranged in slender, spike-shaped flower candles that reach upright. The color palette of the inflorescences ranges from white to various shades of pink to light or dark shades of purple and blue.
Fruits
If the spent inflorescences are not cut off, inconspicuous, small nuts develop. These contain the tiny seeds of steppe sage, which open independently after ripening. The perennial has a strong tendency to self-sow, but the fruits and seeds can also be collected and used for targeted breeding.
Toxicity
The steppe sage is not poisonous, but cannot be used in the kitchen or for the medicine cabinet. For this purpose it is better to grow the aromatic common sage.
Location and soil
The ornamental sage feels most comfortable in a sunny, dry location with well-drained soil. Ideally, you should plant the perennial in a moderately nutrient-rich to sandy, calcareous and loose substrate with a pH value between 6 and 8. The only important thing is that rain and irrigation water can drain away quickly and doesn't build up, as the steppe sage doesn't appreciate wet feet.
Planting steppe sage correctly
In principle, steppe sage, which is usually sold in bales or containers, can be planted throughout the entire growing season. If you plant the perennials in spring, they will bloom in the same year, while specimens planted later will only show their flowers the following year. Before planting, add plenty of well-rotted manure or compost to the planting bed and, if the soil is clayey, ensure good drainage, for example by loosening the soil with sand. The ideal planting distance between individual plants is around half of the expected final height, even when planted in groups or over large areas. Steppe sage, which grows up to 60 centimeters high, should be placed in the bed about 30 centimeters apart.
Watering steppe sage
You only need to water the steppe sage additionally during longer dry periods during the summer months, otherwise additional watering is not necessary.
Fertilize steppe sage properly
You only need to fertilize the perennial if it grows on poor, sandy soil. In this case, give it a boost of fertilizer in the spring, for example using compost or a universal fertilizer (€10.00 on Amazon). Even after summer pruning, a second fertilization is useful to encourage the plants to bloom a second time.
Cutting steppe sage correctly
Cut the steppe sage back by about a third immediately after it has faded and then give it a mineral universal fertilizer and an extra slosh from the watering can. After a few weeks, the perennial blooms a second time, although not as strongly as when it bloomed in spring. If possible, the second pruning should only be done in spring, as the dried shoots should remain on the plant as winter protection.
Propagate steppe sage
It makes sense to divide the steppe sage every three years. This measure not only serves to multiply the plant, but also maintains its flowering and he alth. Otherwise, older specimens tend to age and therefore produce significantly fewer flowers. If possible, divide in the spring. Dig up the plants carefully and pay attention to the root runners that have usually appeared, which you simply have to cut off and plant separately.
If you don't want to wait that long to propagate, you can cut cuttings about ten to 15 centimeters long in late summer and place them directly in the bed. Keep the soil slightly moist and the cuttings will root within a few weeks. Furthermore, propagation using seeds you have collected yourself or purchased is also possible without any problems. You can sow the seeds in a cultivation container on the windowsill from the end of February and grow the young plants in good time before spring. Direct sowing into the bed can be done from the end of April.
Diseases and pests
In terms of diseases and pest infestation, the steppe sage is pleasantly robust and is rarely attacked. A location that is too dark and/or damp, as well as planting that is too dense, can be problematic. The former results in fungal diseases that can destroy the entire crop; if the planting distance is not maintained, there is a risk of powdery mildew infestation or an aphid invasion.
Tip
Not all varieties of steppe sage are sufficiently hardy in this country. However, in most cases it is sufficient not to cut back the plants in autumn and, if necessary, to cover them with brushwood.
Species and varieties
The wild species of ornamental sage hardly plays a role in the garden. However, there is a large range of different cultivars with purple, pink or even white flowers. The varieties all form dense clumps, but differ in growth form and height. The varieties presented here are just a small selection from the wide range on offer.
- 'Adrian': numerous white flower spikes between June and September, pronounced autumnal re-blooming, compact and bushy growth, low height between 30 and 40 centimeters
- 'Blue Hill': simple, violet-blue flower spikes between June and September, pronounced subsequent blooms, densely bushy growth, height up to 50 centimeters
- 'Caradonna': simple, dark purple flowers, slender, bushy growth, height up to 50 centimeters, flowering period between June and September, very rich subsequent blooms
- ‘Compact White’: numerous white flowers between June and September, autumnal rebloom, bushy, very compact growth up to a maximum height of 35 centimeters
- 'Dear Anja': simple, violet-blue flowers, bushy growth, height up to 50 centimeters, flowering period between May and June, rich re-bloom
- 'Marcus': very dark, deep purple flower spikes between June and September, autumnal re-blooming, cushion-forming, low growth between 20 and 30 centimeters high
- 'Merleau Blue': simple, dark blue flowers, bushy growth, height up to 50 centimeters, flowering period between May and September, autumnal re-blooming
- 'Merleau Rose': simple, pink flowers, clumpy growth, height up to 50 centimeters, flowering period between June and September, autumnal re-blooming
- 'Negrito': simple, deep violet-blue flowers, dark shoots and stems, bushy growth, height up to 50 centimeters, flowering period between June and September, autumnal re-blooming
- 'Ostfriesland Kompakt': simple, dark blue to violet flowers, flowering period between June and September, re-blooming in autumn, clumpy growth, height between 20 and 40 centimeters
- 'Pusztaflamme': simple but very dense violet-purple flowers, flowering period between June and September, autumnal re-blooming, clumpy growth, height between 30 and 40 centimeters
- 'Pink Queen': simple, pink flowers, flowering period between June and September, autumnal re-blooming, bushy growth, height between 30 and 40 centimeters
- 'Rügen': simple, violet-blue flowers, flowering period between June and September, autumnal re-blooming, bushy growth, height between 30 and 40 centimeters,
- 'Schwellenburg': densely growing, intensely purple inflorescences, flowering period between June and September, re-blooming in autumn, clumpy growth, height up to 50 centimeters
- 'Sensation Deep Rose': numerous violet-pink flower spikes between June and September, autumnal re-blooming, cushion-like, very compact growth up to a maximum height of 30 centimeters
- 'Sensation White': simple, white flowers between June and September, autumnal rebloom, bushy growth, low growth up to a maximum height of 30 centimeters
- 'Dancer': simple, red-violet flowers between June and September, autumnal rebloom, clumpy, loose growth, height up to 60 centimeters
- 'Viola Klose': simple, deep purple flower spikes between May and September, strong re-blooming in autumn, clumpy growth, height up to 40 centimeters
- 'Wesuwe': simple, dark purple flower spikes, dark shoots and stems, bushy, strong growth, height between 50 and 60 centimeters, flowering period between June and September, pronounced autumnal re-bloom
