The Beautiful Purple Sage Variety You'll Want To Add To Your Garden

If you're looking for stunning new plants to add to your garden, mealycup sage is the perfect choice to brighten it up. With its striking violet-blue flower spikes and attractive silvery-green foliage, this versatile plant stands out for its beauty, adaptability, and long blooming period. Plus, it's easy to grow and can handle a variety of challenges, so it's an ideal plant for both beginner and experienced gardeners alike.

Mealycup sage hails from the southern U.S. and parts of Mexico, making it well-suited to hot, sunny environments. Its name comes from the powdery, mealy texture on its flower calyxes, which adds a quirky charm. But what truly sets this sage apart is its incredible versatility. Looking to attract hummingbirds to your garden, as well as bees and butterflies? Mealycup sage acts like a VIP invitation for pollinators. Whether you're planning a colorful border or a standout container garden plant, this sage delivers. It blooms from late spring to the first frost, ensuring your garden stays vibrant for months. In addition to its beauty, it's deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and thrives in a variety of soils. If this all sounds like a dream, just wait until you hear how easy it is to grow. Let's dive into the simple steps that will make this sage variety a standout in your garden.

First, pick the right spot. This plant loves full sun, so aim for a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. When it comes to soil, mealycup sage isn't picky, but it does best in well-draining soil. If your soil tends to stay soggy, mix in some compost or Pure Original Ingredients Potting & Garden Sand to help with drainage. And skip overly rich soil — it can lead to lots of leafy growth but fewer flowers.

You can grow this plant from seed, such as this option from Sow Right Seeds, or grab young plants from a nursery. If you're going the seed route, start them indoors about eight to 10 weeks before the last frost date. Once the weather warms, transplant them outside. For store-bought plants, spring is the perfect time to get them in the ground so they can settle in before summer hits.

When it comes to watering, give your sage a good soak while it's getting established. Once it's mature, it can handle dry spells. Just don't let the soil get too soggy — that's a fast track to unhappy roots. To keep the flowers coming, make deadheading your new favorite gardening task. Snip off the spent blooms to encourage the plant to produce more. Want a fuller plant? Pinch back the stems early in the season to encourage bushier growth. Make sure to take note of mistakes to avoid when deadheading your garden's flowers.