Salvia austriaca

AUSTRIAN SAGE

No WA

Salvia austriaca
AUSTRIAN SAGE

Salvia austriaca has large, creamy pale-lemon whorls of flowers.
With the most wonderful whiskery long stamens.
Not permitted for WA

Creamy pale lemon flowers with the most wonderful whiskers

So the large, long whiskered blooms are very eye-catching.
Being impressively large, as well as a lovely colour.

Large & handsome lettuce leaves

But the whole plant is even more eye-grabbing by having large, lettuce-like leaves adorned  with maroon blotches and lacy edges.
These are possibly the largest and most arresting leaves of the whole Salvia family, with each leaf growing up to 30cm. long and almost as wide.
And the foliage forms a beautiful mounded rosette up to 1m. across and remains huddled to the ground.
While the flowers spire up above on strong, 60cm. stems.
So Salvia austriaca is a very handsome perennial indeed, even when not in flower.

Hardy in heat, summer humidity, dry, cold & winter frost

Salvia austriaca is known as Austrian Sage, and it certainly does grow in Austria.
However it’s native range extends from Austria and Russia with hot, humid summers and very cold winters. Down to Bulgaria with hot summers and sharp, frosty winters.
So it is known for it’s hardy and adaptable nature.

Thrives in summer humidity

Unlike many other Salvias it actually enjoys summer humidity and moisture, and then can follow up by coping with very frosty winters too.
Salvia austriaca is not a thirsty plant but does enjoy regular summer water.

Spires of flowers for cutting

Flower spires from Salvia austriaca make excellent cut flowers in a vase.

Perfectly adapted to sunny exposed positions & banks

Plant Salvia austriaca in Full Sun. Though it can also tolerate a little shade as long as it is well drained and well aired.
It enjoys well drained conditions and can happily adjust to rocky or gravel sites.
Making it ideal for slopes and banks showing off  it’s spectacular foliage mounds. 

Spectacular & easy in a pot

Salvia austriaca also makes a striking feature in a pot, well worth a prominent position.
It takes to life in a pot well and is hardy and easy to grow in a container.

Bees & birds love Austrian Sage while rabbits & deer do not

Bees and honey-eating native birds really appreciate the whiskered blooms for their abundant nectar.
But rabbits and deer do not find the plant tasty fodder because of the strong, aromatic oils in foliage and stems.

Hardy, easy, long-lived & low maintenance

Salvia austriaca is an evergreen, long lived perennial mound.
60cm High when in showy creamy-lemon, summer flower heads x 1m Wide of spectacular, low evergreen foliage mound.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow seeds of Salvia austriaca at any time of year in a punnet indoors, in warm conditions.

Sow indoors for quick, early plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat the seeds gently to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.

Now barely cover the seeds with sieved mix, sand or grit.
Because these seeds need light for germination.

Then thoroughly moisten the mix by standing the sown punnet in a shallow water bath, and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.
And continue to keep the sown punnet consistently moist, but not waterlogged, by misting from a spray water bottle, as required.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic/glass cover helps to maintain consistent moisture.

Temperatures of 15-25C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
So you can use a heat mat to maintain warmth in cooler parts of the year, if you have one.

Now place the sown, moist punnet in a warm, well lit area (but not in any direct sunlight).

Seedlings emerge in approx. 10-14 days.
But do not discard the punnet too quickly after the first seeds have popped up – as these plants naturally stagger their germination.

Seed Count: 40 seeds per pack.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

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