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Salvia candidissima

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Salvia candidissima

(Woolly White Sage) Salvia candidissima has tidy, upright stems covered with whorls of creamy white blossoms shaped like tiny parrot beaks. They rise from a mid-green rosette of leaves that become fuzzier and whiter as summer heat increases.

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. Woolly White 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. 8 - 9
Size (h/w/fh) The anticipated mature size of the plant: Height, Width & Flower Height. 24"/24"/36"
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 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. 2 to 3 feet
Mature spread The mature width of this plant in average conditions. 2 to 3 feet
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.
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(Woolly White Sage) Salvia candidissima has tidy, upright stems covered with whorls of creamy white blossoms shaped like tiny parrot beaks. They rise from a mid-green rosette of leaves that become fuzzier and whiter as summer heat increases. Honeybees give this sage lots of good buzz.

This new addition to our online catalog would be a lovely border plant for a moon garden. It's also a fine choice for a sunny, waterwise garden due to its tolerance of heat and drought. Although White Woolly Sage benefits from average supplemental watering when conditions are exceptionally dry, it needs soil with sharp drainage.

Sometimes referred to as White Clary, Salvia candidissima is closely related to Salvia sclarea and other meadow sages commonly known as Clary. It's native to Albania, Greece, Iran, Iraq, and especially Anatolia - the largest region of Turkey, which is the far western edge of Asia and is also called Asia Minor. Adaptable to many habitats, it's found from 2,000 to 6,500 feet above sea level in areas ranging from fallow fields to forests and rocky slopes of limestone and shale.

Danish botanist and plant collector Martin Vahl (1749-1804), who was born in Norway, classified and published Salvia candidissima in his book Enumeratio Plantarum in 1804. Vahl learned binomial classification from its inventor, Carl Linnaeus, at universities in Copenhagen and Uppsala.