The flowers of S. lavandulifolia are held well above the foliage.
S. lavandulifolia has handsome silvery foliage.
Compare this plant to:
Salvia officinalis
| |
|
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
|
|
 | |
 | |
 | |
 |
|
'mouse-over' for meanings |
Vahl 1804
Lamiaceae (family) - Nepetoideae (subfamily) - Mentheae (tribe)
Spanish sage, lavender sage
• Català (Catalan): sàlvia espanyola
• Español: salvia de Aragón, salvia de hojas de espliego, salvia de hojas estrechas, salvia de la Alcarria
• Française: sauge d'Espagne, sauge de Provence
• Hrvatski (Croatian): španjolska kadulja
• Italiano: salvia spagnola
• Português: salva espanhola
• Türk (Turkish): İspanya adaçay
• Ελληνική (Greek): φασκόμηλο
Native to rocky, stony ground and full sun in the mountains of Algeria, Morocco, Spain, and Southern France.
Synonymy:
Salvia lavandulaefolia;
Salvia officinalis f. lavandulifolia (Vahl) O. Bolòs & Vigo 1983;
Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia (Vahl) Gams 1927;
Salvia officinalis var. lavandulifolia (Vahl) Pau 1916
A species very similar to the sage of kitchen gardens, Salvia officinalis, with which is has occasionally been classified, and not to be confused with S. hispanica, which is a native of Mexico. This is the species used for cooking in Spain where they appreciate its stronger flavor, sometimes with overtones of rosemary (Rosmarinus). Like its closely related kin, this plant is often studied for its potential in the treatment of high blood pressure, diabeties, Alzheimer's disease, Herpes, menopausal symptoms, depression, lung cancer, as well as other ailments.
Perhaps the main difference to the gardener would be that this perennial shrub is generally lower growing (12-20in, 30-50cm) and wider spreading (2ft, 60cm) and the pale lavender flowers are borne on stems well above the low foliage mass in mid-summer. Another, more subtle difference is that S. lavandulifolia, unlike garden sage, does not contain the controversial terpene thujone, the compound responsible for Absinthe (a liquour made from Wormwood, Artemisia absinthium) being banned from the USA since 1915.
Seán A. O'Hara
www.AnniesAnnuals.com - Richmond, CA
retail, wholesale & mail-order nursery
Popular in the scent industry & with gardeners in England, this native Spanish Salvia has yet to be admired by American gardeners. Fairly small, 1.5 x 1.5ft, it forms a low carpet of downy, grayish-white foliage handy for adding texture & sparkle to the dry garden. Blooming for a month or more in Spring to early Summer, its pale lavender 1in. blooms held in loose whorls are an amazing hummingbird and insect magnet. With a stronger flavor & aroma than the common garden Sage (S. officinalis), it's the favorite Sage for cooking in Spain & much used for scented soaps & the like.
www.Jardin-Sec.com - Meze, France
retail, wholesale & mail-order nursery
S. lavandulifolia subsp. blancoana
Evergreen, gray-green, very aromatic. The plant develops to a dense ground cover. Abundant bright blue flowers in April-May. Height of foliage 20cm. Height in bloom: 40-50 cm. Width: 50 cm and more. 4 months without water. Need good drainage. Tolerates limestone.
S. lavandulifolia subsp. lavandulifolia
Evergreen, silver leaf, long and straight. Bright blue flowers in April-May.
S. lavandulifolia subsp. oxyodon
The leaves are silver, becoming almost white. Mauve-blue flowers on flexible inflorescences, prostrate on the ground in May-June.
S. lavandulifolia subsp. vellerea
Silver leaf, remarkably aromatic. The plant develops slowly from a woody, wide cushioned base. Mauve-blue flowers in May-June. 5 months without water.
|
