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Salvia schlechteri
Salvia schlechteri
Salvia schlechteri

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Salvia schlechteri

(Xobo Valley Sage) Although petite, the rare Xobo Valley Sage is eyecatching due to its lacy, bright green foliage and powder blue flowers. It's even possible that this long-blooming sage may have caught Nelson Mandela's eye as he grew up in the Wild Coast area of South Africa's Eastern Cape.

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. Xobo Valley 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. 7 - 11
Size (h/w/fh) The anticipated mature size of the plant: Height, Width & Flower Height. 12"/24"/24"+
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
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
Container plant? "Yes" indicates that this plant can be successfully grown as a container plant. Yes
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Degree of Difficulty
Easy
Degree of Difficulty
This plant is easy to grow in a variety of conditions.
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(Xobo Valley Sage) Although petite, the rare Xobo Valley Sage is eyecatching due to its lacy, bright green foliage and powder blue flowers. It's even possible that this long-blooming sage may have caught Nelson Mandela's eye as he grew up in the Wild Coast area of South Africa's Eastern Cape.

This full sun sage tolerates heat and drought, but appreciates regular watering based on your local conditions. It is a fine choice for front of border or groundcover in a broad range of USDA zones.

Perhaps it was Xobo Valley Sage's serene combination of colors that made German plant explorer Friedrich Richard Rudolf Schlechter (1872-1925) collect it while touring the Eastern Cape in the late 19th century.

Little information exists about Schlechter's work with Salvias. He mostly collected orchids and members of the milkweed family ( Asclepiadoideae) while exploring gum rubber (Caoutchouc) plantations for the German government.

Salvia schlechteri is endemic to the valley surrounding the Xobho River, which means it is native nowhere else in the wild. The mission school settlement of Xobo -- also known as Xoba -- is in the heart of the Wild Coast near Mandela's Xhosa tribal home in Qunu, where the former South African president is buried.