Introduction

This cultivar of blue salvia, native to the southwestern United States, adds a soft white color to any sunny landscape (Figure 1). Plants grow to about 2 feet tall and will spread with a tight head to about two feet. Flower spikes are held well above the dense, grey/green foliage, displaying the striking white color nicely. Plants are very uniform, providing a nice, solid structure to any landscape planting.

General Information

Scientific name: Salvia farinacea 'Victoria White'

Pronunciation: SAL-vee-uh fair-rin-NAY-see-uh

Common name(s): 'Victoria White' sage, 'Victoria White' salvia

Family: Labiatae

Plant type: perennial; herbaceous

USDA hardiness zones: 9 through 11 (Figure 2)

Planting month for zone 9: Mar; Sep; Nov; Dec

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Feb; Mar; Oct; Nov

Origin: native to North America

Uses: border; cut flowers; attracts butterflies; attracts hummingbirds

Availability: generally available in many areas within its hardiness range

Description

Height: 2 to 3 feet

Spread: 1 to 3 feet

Plant habit: upright

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: fast

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: whorled

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: serrate

Leaf shape: ovate

Leaf venation: not applicable

Leaf type and persistence: semi-evergreen

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: not applicable

Fall characteristic: not applicable

Flower

Flower color: white

Flower characteristic: summer flowering; fall flowering

Fruit

Fruit shape: no fruit

Fruit length: no fruit

Fruit cover: no fruit

Fruit color: not applicable

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: not applicable

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: thin

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in full sun

Soil tolerances: acidic; sand; loam; clay

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 6 to 12 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: not applicable

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Pest resistance: long-term health usually not affected by pests

Use and Management

Space plants about 12 inches apart to quickly form a solid mass of purple color. Set a mass planting of salvia in front of a dark green background of foliage from a dense shrub for maximum effect. Salvia also looks nice planted in a perennial border mixed with other perennials and grasses. It is also suited for planting in a container and displaying on a deck or patio.

Pests and Diseases

Aphids suck plant juices and may coat the leaves with sticky honeydew.

Powdery mildew may coat the leaves with a white powdery growth.