Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

southern river sage, creeping sage

Synonym(s):

Salvia riparia

Genus species:

Salvia misella

Family:

Lamiaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

0.5-0.8 ft tall by 3-5 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

blue

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

winter dormant

Noted For:

Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Used as a ground cover, one of the relatively few Florida plants that both forms a low dense cover and survives shade.

Considerations:

Depending on site, this plant may spread more than preferred, but easy to pull up if it is not wanted

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Friends

Propagation:

Easily propagated by dividing the root ball, but will also grow from seed

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Somewhat long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

slightly acidic to slightly calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars



  • Larval host for Fulvous Hairstreak.


  • Attracts pollinators


Native Habitats:

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Depending on cold, this may keep its leaves all year or die back during the winter. In colder areas, consider growing it as an annual. It adapts well to semi-shady to shady well-drained conditions.



Herbarium specimens from Marion and Alachua counties were in disturbed "garden" localities - not mapped here.  Not planted, but highly unlikely to have appeared other than through human disturbance.