Salvia ‘Augusta Duelberg’

Salvia farinacea ‘Augusta Duelberg’

Characteristics

Culture

The ‘Augusta Duelberg’ Salvia is a variety of the mealy cup sage and is a perennial native plant of South and Central Texas. It is known for its low maintenance and heat, drought and humidity tolerance. This variety has an unusual foliage color with serrated leaves.  Spikes of showy, fragrant, white flowers bloom from spring until frost.  A growing favorite of Texas native plant gardens, plant this gem in the rear of flower beds due to its three-foot height and width. It grows thicker and will flower better in fall if cut back in mid-summer. It is a hardy plant up through Zone 7.

Noteworthy Characteristics

‘Augusta Duelberg’ Salvia is a Texas native plant that was found by horticulturist Greg Grant in a small central Texas cemetery. It is taller with whiter and more floriferous flowers and larger and greener leaves than modern cultivars, although there is less flowering during the height of summer.

This salvia prefers well drained soil, full sun and is drought tolerant once established. Water regularly until established, then once a week through the height of summer if weekly rainfall is less than one inch. The plant is low maintenance although deadheading spent blooms will help produce more flowers. A general fertilizer in spring and summer will produce more flowers, but this activity is not at all required if soil has good fertility. Maintain two inches of mulch. Cut to ground after first frost and mulch over for winter. The plant will reseed itself after established and seedlings are easily transplanted to other areas in the garden.

Problems

Deer and goat resistant, virtually disease and pest free. Fungal problems may arise when soil remains wet over extended periods of time.

Garden Uses

Can be used as bedding, containers, xeriscape, perennial border and cut flowers.