Salvia microphylla

One of the plants whose flowering lasts the longest is the Salvia microphylla. This plant is known as pink sage, mountain myrtle, micro sage, chupeticos, mountain myrtle and grenadine sage. It is native to Mexico and Arizona and belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It is widely used for decoration as an ornamental flower since its flowers tend to last a long time and are very colorful.

Here we are going to show you the main characteristics and the care that the Salvia microphylla.

Key features

It is a small shrub that it can measure up to 1 meter in height. It has fairly weak stems of the semi-herbaceous type and they form a rounded mass. It is perfect for pruning and giving it a rounded shape, giving more privacy in your garden. Its leaves are pale green and have an oval and triangular shape. The smell it has is similar to mint.

Its flowers appear in clusters of fuchsia pink and carmine on the corolla. Flowering takes place in late summer and fall. It is quite resistant to cold, being able to withstand well frosts with temperatures down to -15 degrees. It is also widely used because it can not only withstand frost well, but also heat and drought. This makes it a very versatile plant capable of withstanding almost any environmental condition.

Part of its resistance to different atmospheric conditions is due to its small serrated leaves and its woody but finer trunk make it energy efficient. Therefore, it is able to save a lot of energy in the maintenance of its limbs and can save that energy to defend itself from cold, heat or drought. The leaves do not lose them throughout the year and can support the flowers for long periods of time.

Although the leaves are not edible, they can be used to make herbal teas. Thanks to its mint smell, it helps to relax a lot. The flowers, being so showy, attract numerous types of insects that will favor pollination. It can attract butterflies, bees and bumblebees and even hummingbirds.

Properties and uses

Both the stems and the leaves and flowers have an essential oil that is used to combat digestive problems. The flower can also be used against eye pain if we use it and rub it against the eyelid. The leaves can be applied to soothe earache directly.

If we use it in an infusion, we can calm wounds and clean them in addition to relieving the bronchial tubes in a more severe asthma attack.

Among the main uses that it is used are to offer greater biodiversity to the gardens. Since it has a good aroma, attractiveness and rich nectar, it is capable of attracting different insects to the garden and pollinating birds.. This will help a lot so that your plants can be pollinated better and faster. Insects play important roles in genetic exchange in gardens and give life to ecosystems. Therefore, it is essential to have plants that can attract insects and other animals so that the garden overflows with quality and biodiversity.

They also serve to create floral stripes or small walls with a good appeal. They are used to alternate or accompany the windbreak hedges that they usually have in gardens so that stability increases and so does privacy. It is very useful to decorate relaxation areas as it requires little maintenance and is not usually expansive. Just by planting it, you won't have to take much into account. Just wait for your flowers to grow and enjoy their beauty.

The only drawback that could be pointed out is that, at times, you can be relaxed in your garden quietly when the amount of insects that is attracted by the Salvia microphylla it can be excessive and annoying. You can also accidentally take the odd bite.

Caring for the Salvia microphylla

Since this plant is grown mainly for ornamental purposes, we must take into account the main care it needs to be able to guarantee that we will enjoy its beauty to the fullest. In this case, we are going to focus on how we should take care of it in order to enjoy all the advantages of having it in the garden.

It is a plant that it needs to be in full sun for it to grow properly. If we place it in semi-shade it can survive too, but it is not ideal. Some things have to be taken into account, for example that if we place it next to the windbreak hedges, they can be larger and provide shade. This means that its growth is not entirely perfect, but it can survive well.

We should not worry too much about temperature or rainfall, since it is not a plant that needs a lot of water. Nor should we protect it in case we have a more continuous frost. It is quite resistant to drought. If winter becomes too cold, with too intense frosts, it could be interesting to protect them, since they would become a dead plant.

The soil does not need many requirements. You only need a light soil, with sufficient fertility and good drainage. Let's not forget that if it is a plant that tolerates drought quite well, it means that it does not need much water to survive. Therefore, apart from the fact that we will irrigate with a small amount of water, we will not focus on accumulating it either. You need the soil to be well drained to prevent water build-up.Oh that it ends up rotting the plant.

Irrigation should be increased a little in summer to supplant water losses due to excessive evapotranspiration. In addition, if there is not much rainfall in winter and the humidity generally remains low, we must also increase the irrigation a little more. To get an idea, just let the soil dry to know that we have to water again.

Regarding maintenance tasks, It needs a pruning in late winter so that frost does not interrupt it. In this way it has the time of highest temperatures to prepare the flowering at the end of the summer.

Pests that can harm the Salvia microphylla are White fly, snails, aphids and some slugs. To avoid this, we control the irrigation well.

I hope this information helps you take good care of the Salvia microphylla.