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Salvia hypargeia
Salvia hypargeia
Salvia hypargeia
Salvia hypargeia

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Salvia hypargeia

(Turkish Mountain Sage) Part of the Salvia canescens group of Mediterranean sages, this dwarf species features lavender parrot-type flowers with whitish lower lips (or should we say beaks!).

Common name This is the non-scientific name used for a plant. A plant may have several common names, depending on the gardener's location. To further confuse the matter, a common name may be shared by several completely different plants. At Flowers by the Sea, we rely on the scientific name to identify our plants and avoid confusion. Turkish Mountain Sage
USDA Zones The U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones indicate the temperature zones where a plant is likely to thrive. It is determined by the average annual winter minimum temperature. Actual winter temperatures may be higher or lower than the average. 5 - 9
Size (h/w/fh) The anticipated mature size of the plant: Height, Width & Flower Height. 6"/12"+/12"
Exposure This is the average amount of sunlight that a plant needs to thrive. Generally, full sun exposure is 6 or more hours of direct sun daily while partial shade is less than 4 hours of sun or dappled shade all day. Plants may tolerate more sunlight in cooler climates and need afternoon shade in extremely hot climates. Full sun to partial shade
Soil type This is the kind of soil that a plant needs to thrive. Most plants require a well-drained soil that allows the water to soak into the soil without becoming soggy. Sandy and clay soils can be improved by digging in compost to improve drainage. Well drained
Water needs Plants have specific water requirements. Water loving means the plant needs regular watering to keep the soil moist. Average generally indicates applying 1 inch of water per week, or watering when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. One inch of water is equal to 5 gallons per square yard of soil surface. Average to minimal
Container plant? "Yes" indicates that this plant can be successfully grown as a container plant. Yes
Mature height The mature height of this plant in average conditions. 1 foot or less
Mature spread The mature width of this plant in average conditions. 1 foot or less
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  • Salvia hypargeia
  • Salvia hypargeia
Degree of Difficulty
Challenging
Degree of Difficulty
This plant is can be challenging to grow in conditions outside those in which it is found in the wild.
Best of Class
Best of Class
We believe this to be the best dwarf Turkish Sage.
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(Turkish Mountain Sage) Part of the Salvia canescens group of Mediterranean sages, this dwarf species features lavender parrot-type flowers with whitish lower lips (or beaks!).

The petite flower spikes rise up from gray-green basal foliage. Its reddish green bracts and leaves are pleasingly fuzzy. Summer is bloom time for Salvia hypargeia, which easily attracts humans and butterflies but not deer.

Rock gardeners, this one's for you. Turkish Mountain Sage is native to Turkey, Iraq and Iran, where many plants prefer soil that is gritty -- an important quality for sharp drainage -- and low in fertility.

Due to the lax habit of its basal rosette, this steppe plant is a good choice for mass groundcover planting. It also does well in containers and raised beds. Give this heat- and cold-tolerant perennial full sun to partial shade and average supplemental watering based on local growing conditions.

Introduced to horticulture in 1854, Salvia hypargeia received its scientific name (authoring) from two German botanists who spent much of their careers in Russia. Carl Anton von Meyer (1795-1855) was a botanist for Russia's St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences where he met and collaborated with Ernst Ludwig von Fischer (1782-1854), director of the St. Petersburg Botanical Garden.

Similar to many Mediterranean sages, this one is the focus of medical research due to chemical compounds that may be useful for fighting cancer and bacterial ailments, such as tuberculosis.


We thank Panayoti Kelaidis, Denver Botanic Gardens senior curator and director of outreach, for the beautiful picture of Turkish Mountain Sage.