Salvia ‘Apiana’, commonly known as White Sage or Sacred Sage, features striking silvery foliage with a velvety texture, thanks to its fine, soft hairs. It also produces tall, tubular flower spikes in delicate shades of white/pale lavender. This elegant plant is a perfect choice for borders or gravel gardens, adding both texture and a touch of colour.

Attracts a variety of pollinators, including carpenter bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, making it a fantastic addition to pollinator-friendly gardens. By providing a rich food source for these creatures, it plays an important role in supporting biodiversity and enhancing local ecosystems. It’s low-maintenance nature and easy-growing habit, this variety is an ideal choice for gardeners of all experience levels.

The plant’s structure and growing habit not only provides visual interest but also creates a layered effect, enhancing the overall aesthetic of your garden space. Its graceful yet robust presence makes it an excellent choice for creating depth and dimension, whether as a focal point or as part of a mixed planting scheme within borders.

Sow seeds from March to April in pots/seedling trays spreading them evenly on the surface of moist well-drained soil, a light sprinkle of soil is all that’s needed to gently cover the seeds.

Once your seeds are sown, place the pots or trays in a warm, controlled environment such as a greenhouse or propagator, maintaining a consistent temperature between 20-22°C. This warm, humid temperature will encourage the seeds to germinate.

Seedlings typically taking anywhere from 15-21 days to appear. During this time, monitor the compost to make sure it is well-draining but moist, avoid overwatering, which can cause the seeds to rot.

Once your seedlings are established in pots/seedling trays, transplant them into larger pots to accommodate their growth. From end of May gradually acclimate them to cooler conditions by hardening them off over 7-10 days, allowing the plants to adjust to outdoor conditions. Before planting them outside, ensure the soil is sandy, well-drained, and the site receives full sun. Pinch out growing tip to encourage new bushy growth. Deadhead spent flowers if you prefer to prevent self-seeding. Avoid pruning old stems until new growth begins to appear in the spring. The best time to divide perennial Salvias is early spring, before new growth starts to emerge.