You are here    Flowers by the Sea / Salvias A to Z / Salvia calolophos
Salvia calolophos

How to prune this plant

Dealing with Deer?

Salvia calolophos

(Puna Sage) The deep violet-blue flowered Salvia calolophos has white beelines and oblong, mid-green leaves. It is a high-altitude native of northern Argentina.

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. Puna 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"/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
Hummingbird plant? Hummingbirds have been observed regularly feeding from this plant's flowers. 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
Easy
Degree of Difficulty
This plant is easy to grow in a variety of conditions.
Details
Send to friend
Cultural Icons

(Puna Sage) The deep violet-blue flowered Salvia calolophos has white beelines and oblong, mid-green leaves. It is a high-altitude native of northern Argentina.

This petite, mounding sage is from the Puna region of the Argentine Andes. Puna Sage is rare in the horticultural trade.


As to its species name, calo means beautiful in Latin and lophos refers to a crest, such as the plume on a helmet. Calolophos most likely refers to the plant's flower spikes, which bloom abundantly at their tips to create a plume-like look.

Growing Puna Sage is challenging. In its home environment, it thrives in rocky soil with excellent drainage. Although it prefers average watering based on local growing conditions, this is a sage that seems to like its soil to dry a bit before watering.

As a subshrub, this Salvia combines both soft herbaceous and woody growth. Winter chill may cause it to die to ground, but it will reemerge the next growing season. Similar to most sages, this is a deer-resistant species.

The Salvia genus is part of the huge mint family (Lamiaceae). American botanist and Lamiaceae expert Carl C. Epling (1894-1968) gave Salvia calolophos its scientific name in 1935.