Introduction

'Purple Majesty' is an herbaceous perennial that bears striking, deep purple flowers (Figure 1). This 3-foot-tall, upright plant has dark green foliage that adds a fine texture to the garden. Its rich flowers appear throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

General Information

Scientific name: Salvia guarantica x gesneraeflora 'Purple Majesty'

Pronunciation: SAL-vee-uh gar-RAN-tick-kuh

Common name(s): 'Purple Majesty' sage, 'Purple Majesty' salvia

Family: Labiatae

Plant type: perennial; herbaceous

USDA hardiness zones: 7 through 11 (Figure 2)

Planting month for zone 7: Jun; Jul

Planting month for zone 8: May; Jun; Jul

Planting month for zone 9: Apr; May; Jun; Jul; Aug; Sep

Planting month for zone 10 and 11: Feb; Mar; Apr; May; Jun; Jul; Aug; Sep; Oct; Nov; Dec

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: cut flowers; border; edging; mass planting; attracts butterflies; attracts hummingbirds; hanging basket; cascading down a wall

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the plant

Description

Height: 1 to 2 feet

Spread: 2 to 3 feet

Plant habit: round

Plant density: moderate

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: dentate

Leaf shape: saggitate (arrow)

Leaf venation: pinnate; reticulate

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: purple

Flower characteristic: spring flowering; summer flowering; fall flowering; flower season is longer in zones 9-11

Fruit

Fruit shape: unknown

Fruit length: unknown

Fruit cover: unknown

Fruit color: unknown

Fruit characteristic: inconspicuous and not showy

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: typically multi-trunked or clumping stems

Current year stem/twig color: green

Current year stem/twig thickness: thick

Culture

Light requirement: plant grows in full sun

Soil tolerances: acidic; alkaline; sand; loam; clay

Drought tolerance: moderate

Soil salt tolerances: unknown

Plant spacing: 18 to 24 inches

Other

Roots: not applicable

Winter interest: no special winter interest

Outstanding plant: not particularly outstanding

Invasive potential: not known to be invasive

Pest resistance: no serious pests are normally seen on the plant

Use and Management

Sage may be used as a specimen in a small garden, but is most attractive in mass plantings in most residential and commercial landscapes. Space plants about 15 inches apart to establish a quick cover.

Place sage in an area of the landscape where it can receive full sun to partial shade. It favors well-drained soils and is quite drought tolerant. Both the tops and roots are generally unscathed by freezing temperatures in all but the coldest parts of Florida. Freezing temperatures kill the plant in the northern part of its range.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern other than chewing insects.