Mealycup sage, Salvia farinacea

Overview of Mealycup Sage

Mealycup sage, Salvia farinacea, is native to the plains, prairies, meadows and woodland edges of Mexico, central and western Texas and New Mexico in limestone soils from 3,500 to 6,000 feet. Also commonly called mealy blue sage, mealy sage, or blue sage, this short lived herbaceous tender perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) is hardy in zones 8a to 10b. Because it is fast-growing and bears multiple spikes of blue flowers in its first year (flowering in less than four months from seed), it is frequently grown as an annual where it will not survive the winter.

Both the scientific and common names refer to the powdery white felted hairs on the flower calyx and upper stems; this extremely fine white pubescence is referred to as farinose (“mealy” means covered with powdery meal; farina is Latin for flour or meal).

This upright to sprawling plant can form a mound of foliage up to 4 feet tall and wide. The long (to 3 inch), drooping, lance-shaped, nearly-glossy leaves grow in dense clusters (opposite to whorled) from the square stems. Most salvias have hairy or velvety leaves, so the shiny leaves set this species apart. The aromatic leaves may or may not be irregularly-serrate or toothed. They are a soft gray-green to nearly silver in color, especially on the undersides.

Plants bloom from early summer to frost on tall, sturdy stems growing from the clusters of leaves in axillary and terminal racemes that somewhat resemble lavender. Dark blue, light blue, purple, or white flowers are borne in dense whorls along each 4 to 8 inch long flower spike. Each flower has the 5 lobes and 2 lips typical of the salvias. They are up to ¾ inch long with 2 stamens and 1 pistil.

Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds find the lightly fragrant (often described as grape scented) flowers very attractive. The flower spikes can be cut to use in fresh or dried arrangements. Goldfinches will eat the seeds in the small, dry brown fruits that follow the flowers.

Landscape Use of Mealycup Sage

Use mealycup sage in annual or mixed beds or borders, as focal points, and in mass plantings.  It works well in cottage gardens or more formal styles of gardens to add vertical interest. It can also be used in containers or grown in cutting gardens. Include mealycup sage in wildlife or butterfly gardens because of its attraction to pollinators. The grayish foliage offers color contrast with the typical green foliage of most other plants or with dark-leaved plants, such as ‘Black Pearl’ ornamental pepper or ‘Dark Opal’ or ‘Purple Ruffles’ basil, or pair it with the silvery leaves of dusty miller. The upright blue flower spikes combine well with yellow or pink flowers on mounding or spreading plants such as lantana, marigolds, begonias or petunias. Or combine it with taller annuals such as cosmos or tall zinnias for a colorful low seasonal hedge.

Grow mealycup sage in full sun to partial shade. It adapts well to nearly all types of soils (including heavy clay and sandy soils), and although it prefers good moisture levels, it is fairly drought tolerant once established. It will be weak and leggy in wet soils. Plants can be sheared back to promote a more compact plant, but this will delay flowering for several weeks. This plant has few problems other than aphids and powdery mildew in our climate, and is not attractive to deer.

Propagating Mealycup Sage

Mealycup sage is easily propagated from seed, and may self-sow in favorable sites, but not excessively, with plants starting to bloom by late summer if allowed to grow on their own. Seeds can be collected by bagging the old flower spikes to capture ripening seed. Light is beneficial for germination, so press the seed into the growing medium rather than covering it. Seeds germinate in 5 to 21 days. Sow indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the average last spring frost date, and set out plants after the last frost. Plants sown outdoors after last frost may not bloom before the first frost in fall. Plants can also be propagated from softwood cuttings in spring through fall, or overwintered by cutting back and potting up in fall to keep indoors in a bright but cool sunny window.

Cultivars of Mealycup Sage

The species is rarely offered as an annual bedding plant in nurseries and garden centers, but there are many more refined cultivars and some hybrids that are commonly available, either as plants or seeds, including:

• ‘Blue Bedder’ grows to about 3 feet tall with deep blue flower spikes.
• ‘Blue Frost’ is a Proven Winners selection with blue bracts and lavender flowers that grows 1-2 feet tall.
• CATHEDRAL® series features vegetative varieties with a compact habit and early flowering, growing 1 2 to 18 inches tall and 12 to 16 inches wide. Available in Blue Bicolor, Deep Blue, Lavender, Purple, Shining Sea (lavender with white flowers), Sky Blue, and White.
• Duelberg series varieties were discovered growing in an old, untended Texas cemetery, and were named after the names on tombstones near where they were found. ‘Augusta Duelberg’ is large and dense, growing 2.5 feet tall by 4 feet wide, producing spikes of silvery-white flowers. ‘Henry Duelberg’ is a bit taller and has blue flowers.
• EVOLUTION® series is compact and floriferous and available in ‘Violet’ and ‘White’. ‘Violet’ won an All-America Selections award in 2006. Both colors features masses of flowers on 16 to 18 inch tall plants.
• ‘Fairy Queen’ has a well-branched, habit and sapphire blue flowers with a small white spot on each. Grows 18 inches tall.
• ‘Rhea’ is compact, growing just 12 to 14 inches tall with purple-blue flowers on dark purplish stems.
• ‘Strata’ grows 18 inches tall and has clear blue flowers with a white calyx for a two-tone effect. It was awarded the Fleuroselect Gold Medal for its unique color and excellent performance in the garden and was a 1996 All America Selections Winner.
• UNPLUGGED® So Blue™ (variety ‘G14251’, US PP 32,695) is a vegetative Proven Winners® variety that grows 14 to 24 inches tall with true blue flowers.
• UNPLUGGED® White (variety ‘DPWSAFUWHT’ US PP 36,564) is a vegetative Proven Winners® variety that grows 14 to 24 inches tall with pure white flowers.
• VELOCITY™ Blue is a vegetative cultivar that blooms early and has large, dark blue flower spikes and a dense habit. Grows 12 to 16 inches tall and 10 to 12 inches wide.
• ‘Victoria’ series is densely branched, with large flowers, growing 18 to 24 inches tall. ‘Victoria Blue’ is one of the most common blue flowered cultivars and ‘Victoria White’ has white flowers.
• ‘Big Blue’ is a hybrid of S. longispicata and S. farinacea. Unlike most other varieties derived from this cross, it is seed propagated. This vigorous variety grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 18 to 20 inches wide, with large, deep blue flowers and dark green leaves.
• ‘Indigo Spires’ is a cross of S. farinacea and S. longispcata introduced by Huntington Botanic Gardens in Pasadena, California in 1979. It is very heat and drought tolerant, with velvety purple-blue flowers on spikes up to 3 feet tall.
• Mystic Spires (variety ‘Balsalmispim’, US PP 29,604) features large spikes of blue flowers on plants that grow to 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. This variety was developed as a colchicine induced sport of Mystic Spires Blue (variety ‘Balsalmisp’), and was introduced as Mystic Spires Improved and eventually replaced its parent variety in the market.

– Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Last Update: Allen R. Pyle, UW-Madison Extension, 2026