Description
In a prairie garden or naturalized landscape, its striking blue flowers stand out even when the plant itself is somewhat sparse. The vivid blue provides a lovely contrast to the yellow wildflowers that bloom in early fall. Blooming from late summer into early fall, Blue Sage draws bees and butterflies with its nectar. When touched, the leaves release the characteristic aromatic scent of Salvia, which helps deter deer and rabbits. Additionally, species in this genus serve as host plants for the Hermit Sphinx Moth.
Blue Sage can sometimes “lodge” or topple, particularly in fertile soils. To prevent this, avoid heavy fertilization, consider pinching or staking, or plant it alongside dense clumps of other plants or grasses to provide support for its tall stems.
These seeds were self-harvested and cleaned. The packet may contain plant materials. (chaff)
Seeds/Packet : 100
Life Cycle : Perennial
Sun Exposure : Full, Partial
Soil Moisture : Medium, Medium-dry, Dry
Height : 5 Feet
Bloom Time : July – October
Bloom Color : Blue to Sky Blue
USDA Zones – 4-9
Plant Spacing : 18”-24”
Growing From Seed
Starting plants from seed is one of the most cost-effective ways to introduce native species to your garden. However, many wild plant seeds have natural dormancy mechanisms that prevent them from sprouting immediately. In the wild, this ensures that seeds don’t germinate all at once, protecting young plants from late frosts or dry conditions. To successfully grow native plants, gardeners often need to overcome this dormancy.
Dormancy can be overcome artificially through cold/moist stratification, which involves storing damp seeds in the refrigerator for approximately 30 days. Alternatively, you can sow via the Winter Sowing Method, or you can let nature handle it by sowing seeds outdoors in late fall or winter.
After cold/moist stratification, you can directly sow them outdoors after the last frost. You could also start them a little early indoors. (Be aware these form taproots that do not like to be disturbed)
