Salvia 'Allen Chickering'

Salvia 'Allen Chickering'

A popular hybrid of Salvia leucophylla and S. clevelandii.   A fragrant evergreen shrub that grows three to five feet tall and wide.   The foliage is comprised of deeply wrinkled gray-green leaves.  This sage produces blue-purple flowers that bloom in early spring.  Prune back young plants regularly in the first year to encourage long-term development of a strong bushy structure.

When a plant is about one to two years old the plant can break from a heavy flower stalk.  Young plants should be regularly pinched or lightly headed back to promote dense branching habits in the late fall or early winter.  It is not recommended to cut into older wood, it may not resprout.  Allen Chickering is considered a vigorous sage- and should be cut back on the top- each stem leaving two nodes that have live green to gray buds or leaves.  

- Plant in full sun

- Best in well-drained soil, low amounts of supplemental water during summer

- Drought tolerant

- Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

- Deer resistant

- Hardy up to 15 degrees