FNPS Plant Database

Salvia lyrata

lyre-leaved sage

PHOTOS COMING SOON!

Nomenclature

Common Name:

lyre-leaved sage

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Salvia lyrata

Family:

Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

1 - 1.5 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

blue,lavender

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant or with only a basal rosette. Blooms spring.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower garden. Roadside plantings. Can be mixed in with grasses or other low groundcovers. If kept mowed, it will reward you in the spring by creating a sea of blue.

Considerations:

If planning to intermix in garden or grass, be aware that this species seeds readily. It definitely does not belong in a manicured lawn.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed (strew on top of bare soil). Division.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

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:

Adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

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



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Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Attracts many pollinators including  butterflies and bees.

Native Habitats:

Disturbed sites. Roadsides, dry-mesic to mesic areas.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Young leaves are sometimes used in salads or can be steamed or boiled. Leaves can also be brewed as a tea. Somewhat minty. The plant had a number of medicinal uses none of which we would want to vouch for. FNPS has not validated these statements. What you eat or drink is your own responsibility.

General Comments:

The basal leaves are usually tingled with purple and have deep lobes toward the base, which is reminiscent of the shape of a lyre.

Citations:

Haehle, Robert G. and Joan Brookwell.  1999.  Native Florida Plants.  Gulf Publishing Company.  Houston, TX.



Huegel, Craig, N.  2012.  Native wildflowers and other ground covers for Florida landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Osorio, Rufino. 2001. A gardener's guide to Florida's native Plants.  University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.



Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. 2021. Atlas of Florida Plants ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ).  Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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