Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' ('East Friesland')

Sunset

Zones 2-10, 14-24, 30-41

Full

Moderate

Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' ('East Friesland')

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Perennials

SALVIA

All sages have square stems and whorls of two-lipped flowers, either distinctly spaced along flower stalks or so tightly crowded that they look like one dense spike; some species have branched inflorescences. Flower colors range from white and yellow through salmon and pink to scarlet and pure red, from pale lavender to true blue and darkest purple. A few sages have fragrant blossoms. Many have aromatic foliage. Sages attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies.

Salvia nemorosa

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Salvia nemorosa

To 1 1/2 – 3 ft. tall, spreading 2–3 ft.wide by rhizomes. Forms tight foliage rosette from which rise erect, branching flower stems. Wrinkled, dull green, finely toothed leaves are oval or lance-shaped. Lower leaves are stalked, to 4 in. long; upper ones are smaller, virtually stalkless, clasping flower stem. Sprawls if not supported. Stems 3–6 in. long hold 1/4 -in. flowers in violet, purple, pink, or white, with persistent violet, purple, or green bracts. Blooms summer through fall if spent stems are removed.