FNPS Plant Database

Salvia azurea

blue sage, azure blue sage
  • Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: Mark Hutchinson, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Eleanor Dietrich, Magnolia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

blue sage, azure blue sage

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Salvia azurea

Family:

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

Flower

Size:

3–5 ft tall by 2–4 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

blue, white

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

In north Florida, winter dormant and blooms July-October. In south Florida, may grow and bloom into winter

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden, suitable for naturalizing.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed, cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- Very 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, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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No county distribution is available for this plant yet.
Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Nectar source for native bees, including bumblebees, and other pollinators (Xerces Society). Attracts butterflies.

Native Habitats:

Flatwoods, sandhills, pine-oak-hickory woods, secondary woods

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Rudnicki, Alicia. (2020). Sage Words about Wildlife: 4 Seasons of Hummingbird Salvias (blog post). ( https://www.fbts.com/sage-words-about-wildlife/sage-words-about-wildlife-4-seasons-of-hummingbird-salvias.html ). Accessed 2026. Flowers by the Sea, Elk, CA.


Wunderlin, R. P, B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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