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Salvia moorcroftiana x indica 'Shangri-la'
Salvia moorcroftiana x indica 'Shangri-la'
Salvia moorcroftiana x indica 'Shangri-la'

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Salvia moorcroftiana x indica 'Shangri-la'

(Shangri-la Sage) Take a close look at Salvia moorcroftiana x indica ‘Shangri-la’ and you’ll notice that its lavender flowers have lighter lower lips with deep purple freckles.

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. Shangri-la 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. 24"/30"/42"
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
Mature height The mature height of this plant in average conditions. 1 to 2 feet
Mature spread The mature width of this plant in average conditions. 2 to 3 feet
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(Shangri-la Sage) Take a close look at Salvia moorcroftiana x indica 'Shangri-la' and you'll notice that its lavender flowers have lighter lower lips with deep purple freckles. The tall, branched flower spikes arise from a short mound of large, aromatic, blue-gray leaves that are a bit prickly but so pretty with lightly ruffled edges.

Shangri-la is a singular early bloomer, a perennial that tolerates cold, heat, and drought to bring on a reliable burst of color and fragrance  beginning in spring. It's a good addition to dry gardens but thrives with average watering based on the amount of your local rainfall. Similar to most sages, it needs good soil drainage. However, Shangri-la is adaptable to soils ranging from clay to sandy loam. Plant it in a partial to full sun setting.

Shangri-la is a brand of Colorado's Plant Select, a nonprofit collaboration between Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens. Suncrest Nurseries, a wholesaler based in Watsonville, California, discovered it as a chance seedling at one of its properties.

Shangri-la is a cross between the high-altitude species Kashmir Sage (Salvia moorcroftiana) and Two-lip Spotted Sage (Salvia indica), which is native to rocky limestone slopes from 350 to 5,000 feet high in western Asia. In your garden, it will be at home in flowerbeds or containers.

Salvia moorcroftiana is named for 19th century British veterinarian William Moorcroft (1765 - 1825) who collected the plant in the Ladakh region of what is now the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was published in 1830 by botanists Nathaniel Wallich (1786 - 1854) and George Bentham (1800 - 1884) in Plantae Asiaticae Rariores.

In Latin and Greek, indica means "of India." In May 1753, Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707 - 1778) published Salvia indica in Species Plantarum.

It's lovely to think about these two immigrants finding each other in 21st-century America. Together, they make great music in Shangri-la Sage, which attracts many a hungry honeybee.