Plant Library

Other Names:  Creeping Sage, Spreading Purple Sage

Description:

An attractive low growing variety with a wide, spreading habit, producing striking spikes of rose-pink flowers; excellent as groundcover on slopes; may climb over other plants or objects

Ornamental Features

Point Sal Sage has masses of beautiful spikes of fragrant rose tubular flowers with pink overtones rising above the foliage from mid spring to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. It has grayish green evergreen foliage which emerges silver in spring. The fuzzy narrow leaves remain grayish green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Point Sal Sage is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Point Sal Sage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Point Sal Sage will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity extending to 3 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 feet. It has a low canopy. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Point Sal Sage makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.