Mendel’s Gardens

Salvia argentea

Silver Sage

Family LamiaceaeGenus Salvia

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennial
Height
1-3 ft
Spread
1-1.5 ft
Flower
Showy; white tinged with pink
Blooms
June to July
Native range
Southern Europe and northern Africa
Hardiness zones
5-8
Note
Grown for the woolly silver leaves. Tolerates deer and drought.

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun
Soil
Average, dry to medium, well-drained
Moisture
Dry to medium
Watering
Dry to medium

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Source: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden.

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow on the surface — do not cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 2 days to germinate.

16% germination in 1–2 days.

16%, most of it inside two days. The best of four, and none of them is good.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    6%, over 7-9 weeks.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

    A further 2%, on the second day.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 63 days to germinate.

6% germination in 49–63 days.

6% in the cold, then 2% more on the second day after the move.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

4% germination.

A quarter of the lit result. Give this one light.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

No stated waiting before sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

1% germination.

1%. Outdoors is the worst option for this species.

This source doesn't state how long.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, SalviaPublic domain
Show the original text
Salvia (Lamiaceae). S. argentea germ. 70L(16% largely in 1-2 d), 70D(4%), 40(6% in 7-9 w)-70(2% in 2nd d), and 1% in outdoor treatment.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Salvia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.