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Salvia argentea

Silver Sage

Family LamiaceaeGenus Salvia

A low rosette of woolly gray leaves sending up stems of white hooded flowers, on stony ground
The whole plantTodd BolandCC BY 4.0
A plate of tall stems carrying white two-lipped flowers in whorls, above large heart-shaped leaves felted gray, with one leaf drawn separately.
IllustrationNicolás Joseph JacquinPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
biennial or perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
1-3 ft30-90 cmPlant Finder
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; white tinged with pinkPlant Finder
Blooms
June to JulyPlant Finder
Native range
Southern Europe and northern AfricaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
5-8Plant Finder
Note
Grown for the woolly silver leaves. Tolerates deer and drought.Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Soil
Average, dry to medium, well-drainedPlant Finder
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Dry to mediumPlant Finder
Watering
Dry to mediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

16% germination in 1–2 days.

16%, most of it inside two days. The best of four, and none of them is good.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    6%, over 7-9 weeks.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 2%, on the second day.

Germination happens during step 2, in 63 days.

6% germination in 49–63 days.

6% in the cold, then 2% more on the second day after the move.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

A quarter of the lit result. Give this one light.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing.

1% germination.

1%. Outdoors is the worst option for this species.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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