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Salvia bulleyana
Salvia bulleyana
Salvia bulleyana

Salvia bulleyana

(Purple & Yellow Yunnan Sage or ji ye shu wei cao) Confusion about this plant's scientific name cause it to appear in some sources as Salvia flava var. megalantha. Whatever you call it, this Chinese species from Yunnan Province has enchanting yellow and purple flowers that attract viewers as well as honeybees.

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. Blue & Yellow Yunnan Sage or ji ye shu wei cao
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. 12"/18"/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. 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 & rich
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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  • Salvia bulleyana
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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(Purple & Yellow Yunnan Sage or ji ye shu wei cao) Confusion about this plant's scientific name cause it to appear in some sources as Salvia flava var. megalantha. Whatever you call it, this Chinese species from Yunnan Province has enchanting yellow and purple flowers that attract viewers as well as honeybees.

In Pinyin -- a phonetic version of Chinese -- "shu wei cao" means "sage" and "ye" is "leaf." The most likely meaning of "ji" is "several." So perhaps another common name for this sage should be "Many Leafed Sage". It makes sense, because the flower spikes rise up from a thick basal clump of deeply wrinkled, soft, fuzzy foliage.

English botanist Reginald John Farrer (1880-1920) collected Salvia bulleyana and named it for Arthur K. Bulley, a cotton broker who helped finance two of Farrer's plant expeditions.

Salvia bulleyana prefers partial shade and tolerates extreme cold as well as heat. This is a water-loving sage, but does fine with average watering based on local rainfall. As with so many Asian perennial sages, it fits well in a shady woodland garden but doesn't tempt deer.

A 2012 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences notes that Salvia bulleyana is one of a number of Chinese sages containing tanshinones, which are plant chemicals that may prove useful in fighting cancer.