Salvia muirii

Salvia muirii

Salvia muirii is an evergreen perennial, native of South Africa and is well suited to Australian conditions. First discovered in 1915, this plant is small in its natural environment and grows to about 30cm. However, it appears to grow larger in cultivation and may reach up to 1 meter. The plant itself can appear to be rather ‘twiggy’ with woody stems, particularly as the leaves are small and do not help to obscure the branches. The underground roots have the ability to recover and help the plant regenerate after fires, similar to many Australian plants.

The very small leaves have a leathery appearance and the colour is light green to grey. When crushed they become sticky and release a scent reminiscent of menthol and eucalyptus. The flowers are a blue-lavender colour with a white splash in the centre. In full bloom, the plant gives the appearance of lots of little faces. The flowers have a hooded, closed upper lip and a lower, wider open ‘mouth’. The flowers open in pairs at the stem tips and the stem continues to grow with new flowers forming above, as the old petals drop off. The dark red calyces stay on the stem, providing some extra colour. It has small, spherical black seeds which are released a month after flowering ceases.

Growing Conditions

This salvia is non-invasive and forms a tidy clump, with the flowers often seeming rather large for the plant. The flowering season lasts from summer to autumn, when cold weather sets arrives. The plant is happy to grow in most soils, but its natural habitat is sandy soils in South Africa in the foothills of the Southern Cape region. It is a hardy plant and is very tolerant of both drought and cold conditions. However, in cultivation it seems to grow bigger, perhaps due to the presence of extra water and enriched soils.

If you choose to propagate by seed, sew in autumn and winter, then expect the seedlings to appear after 10 days. However, cuttings are more reliable and should be taken in spring and summer. Salvia muirri is very easy to grow and does well in a rockery or border in sunny, dry gardens. It mixes well with sedums, Artemsia, rosemary, lavender and other Mediterranean plants. It will even do well in a container.

The salvia family has over 900 members with an extensive history as culinary, medicinal and ornamental plants. Ornamental salvias have become collectors’ items, as gardeners try to find a place in their garden for each and every one. There are salvias that will suit every type of soil and climate. More information on the Salvia genus and Common Sage (Salvia officinalis) may be found on our Common Sage page.