This purple flowered royal sage has impressed us for years with its hardiness to cold, true purple flowers and tolerance of cold winter wet. A loose spreading perennial that adorns its tips with royal purple flower from June to frost. Never dense it prefers full hot sun and very well drained soils and light but consistent summer water. To 18″ tall by 2′ wide in time. Do not cut back until new growth pushes in spring. It needs a woody framework of branches to protect the overwintering crown. Takes blasting hot conditions. Moderate deer resistance. Very long blooming perennial that doesn’t flinch at heat and drought. The royal purple flowers are held in black calyxes. Excellent on slopes. Some wonderful companions are Epilobium (Zauschneria) septentrionalis ‘Select Mattole’ and Cuphea cyanea ‘hirtella’. Long lived perennial.
Salvia muelleri
Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Salvia
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Biomes/Growing conditions: Deer Resistance, Hot Aspects, Low Water/No Water, Oregon Coast, Western Native
Sun exposure: Full Sun
USDA Hardiness zone: Zn7a 5º to 0ºF
Foliage color: Mid Green
Foliage season: Winter Deciduous