I didn’t realize that when I agreed to expand the garage for my husband’s Mustang restoration project, I was also in on the garden restoration project. After removing water-loving camellias, azaleas and ferns from the north side of the old garage, I recognized the opportunity to create a truly drought-tolerant garden. Now, where do you start?
I checked the Master Gardener and City of Visalia sites for landscaping ideas and plants, and this Salvia plant came up again and again. So, that’s what I thought of first.
The name Salvia is derived from the Latin word salver, which means “healing.” As it stands, salvia has been used for its herbal and medicinal properties since ancient times. The Salvia genus offers gardeners one of the largest and most diverse collections of plants available. Since the 1970s, this genus has produced some of the most popular ornamental plants in gardens. Sage can be used as ground covers, bedding plants, herbaceous perennials and shrubs. A relative of the familiar kitchen sage, many species of salvia produce spikes of small, dense flowers atop aromatic foliage. These heat- and drought-tolerant beauties bloom from early to late summer in shades of blue, violet, red, pink and white. Plants can grow between 18 inches and 5 feet tall, depending on the variety.
The genus offers a wide range of shapes, decorative foliage and vibrantly colored flowers that combine well with most other plants in the landscape. Many species attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees, but fortunately not deer and rabbits. It is the scent of its leaves, which we humans find so attractive, that acts as a foul-smelling repellent for garden pests.
They are adaptable to almost any garden condition, from full sun to partial sun, and a few even tolerate full shade. Salvia is often called “the perfect garden plant.” The challenge is to choose the best varieties for our climate. Nineteen species are native to California, and many area gardeners now want to bring these native plants back into their landscapes. Most salvias are drought tolerant, once established, and already rebel against excessive summer watering.
Salvia is best planted in late fall or early spring, spacing plants 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety and final plant size. Select a site according to sunlight needs with well-drained soil. Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix it with a 2 to 4 inch layer of compost. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot the plant is in. Carefully remove the plant from its pot, loosen the root ball and place it in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Carefully fill around the root ball and gently firm the soil. Water well. Apply a thin layer of compost each spring, followed by a 2-inch layer of mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. Water the plants frequently until they are established, sometimes during the hot summer.
Although salvia is low-maintenance, it can suffer occasional bouts of fungal diseases and infestations of aphids or thrips. Some species also fall prey to slugs and snails. Treat as you would other plants with these problems.
Now that I’ve done my research, you can be sure that my new garden will include a number of sagebrush plants to cover the scar created by the Mustang Restoration Project.
Master Gardeners will be available to answer your questions at a few select locations in the next few months!
Visalia Farmers Market – 1st and 3rd Saturday, 8-11 a.m., 2100 W. Caldwell Ave. (behind Sears)
Hanford Farmers Market – 4th Thursday – 5-9 p.m
Ace Hardware, Visalia – First Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m
Lewis Nursery, Visalia – Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact Us: Tulare County Master Gardeners: (559) 684-3325, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-11:30;
Kings County: (559) 852-2736, Thursdays only, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Instagram on: @mgtularekings
