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Salvia nutans (Nodding Sage)

Salvia nutans – The Graceful Nodding Sage

Salvia nutans (syn. Salvia acutifolia, S. betonicifolia, S. cernua, S. hastata, Sclarea nutans) is a distinctive European and Asian species known as nodding sage. Its common name derives from the gracefully drooping (nodding) flower spikes, which bear whorls of violet-blue flowers. The plant forms a basal rosette of large, textured leaves. It is a biennial or short-lived perennial that self-sows gently, naturalizing in meadows and cottage gardens.

Taxonomy & Classification

Family:	Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee)
Genus:	Salvia (SAL-vee-uh)
Species:	nutans (NUT-ans)
Synonym:	Salvia acutifolia
Synonym:	Salvia betonicifolia
Synonym:	Salvia cernua
Synonym:	Salvia hastata
Synonym:	Sclarea nutans

Growing Tips

Full sun to part shade, well-drained soil. Allow to self-sow for persistence. Hardy in USDA zones 4-8.

Salvias: Salvia elegans: Pineapple Sage with Fragrant Foliage and Red Flowers; Salvia officinalis: Common Sage, the Culinary Herb; Salvia argentea: Silver Sage with Dramatic Foliage; Salvia mexicana: Mexican Sage with Blue Flowers and Green Calyces; Salvia farinacea: Mealy Cup Sage, the Species with Blue Spikes; Salvia sclarea: Clary Sage with Large Bracts and Aromatic Foliage; Salvia viridis: Clary Sage with Colorful Bracts (Painted Sage); Beach Sage (Salvia africana-lutea); Salvia staminea (Iranian Sage); Salvia mexicana: The Towering Mexican Sage

Garden Articles

Dominican Sage (Salvia dominica)

West Indian Sage (Salvia occidentalis)

Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)

Texas Sage (Salvia texana)

Salvia merjamie (Minty Kilimanjaro Sage)

Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans): Fragrant Herb with Scarlet Flowers

Common Sage (Salvia officinalis): The Wise Herb for Kitchen and Medicine

Plants

Salvia coccinea: Scarlet Sage, a Self-Sowing Annual for Hummingbirds

Salvia azurea: Pitcher Sage with Sky-Blue Flowers

Rose Leaf Sage (Salvia involucrata)

Baby Sage (Salvia microphylla)

Greek Sage (Salvia fruticosa)

Wild Clary Sage (Salvia verbenaca)

Creeping Sage (Salvia misella)