Tricolor Sage
- botanical name: Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’
- perennial zones 5-9
- height 18-24″
- spacing 20″ apart
- full sun tolerant
- dry-average soil
- flower color light purple flowers
- uses in garden: as a border, great in containers, drought tolerant, fragrant
- attracts bees and butterflies
- deer resistant
*Please note: We accept plant orders at any time of the year and if you prefer to place an order outside our regular shipping months of April-May, ordering is still easy. “Why we only ship in April and May”
Due to the nature of shipping live plants, when you place an order, we will simply hold your order and ship it at the proper time for your zone, when weather permits in April 2013. Seed packets are shipped year round through USPS.
For more information see our “Ordering and Shipping Policy.”
Tricolor Sage is the jester of the garden, a burst of color like a cluster of ribbons with its striking white, purple, and green variegated foliage. Although it doesn’t have the culinary value of Common or Purple Sage, it is aromatic and by far the most striking of the Sages with a beautiful rounded, mounding habit. Plant it anywhere you want something that looks bright and unconventional.
All of the Sage varieties like well-drained soil, are drought tolerant, and a great choice for mixed pots. Sage will become quite woody after a year or two so plants should be replaced every four or five years. Cut back severely in the spring before new growth appears. Use a light compost mulch to encourage growth.
Which Sage variety is right for you? View a summary of all the varieties together.
Sowing Instructions:
Sage seed stores poorly. Before planting a large amount you should test for good germination rates. Sow seed directly into fine garden soil or start indoors early, then transplant in spring when all danger of frost has passed. Spread seed on warm soil and cover with 1/8-1/4 inch fine soil. Seeds will germinate in 7-21 days. Once plants are three inches tall, thin and space plants 12 inches apart.
Preferred method: propagate from soft-wood cuttings or by root division. If you do divide, use the outer, newer growth for replanting.
