Pruning after a long blooming period will help encourage the plant to produce thicker compact foliage and prevent it from becoming leggy. Although mealycup sage is reliably perennial only in the outer coastal plain, it grows beautifully during the spring, summer, and fall and functions as an annual in the mountains and piedmont. Grow this sage in full sun. It prefers well-drained, moist soil but tolerates dry clay soil. The common name, Mealycup, is a combination of the words "mealy" meaning covered with a powdery meal and "cup" which refers to the shape of the calyx. The epithet, farinacea, is from the Latin word farina which means "flour or meal." This refers to the powdery white hairs on the calyx of the flower and upper stems. The name, Salvia, is derived from the Latin term salveo which means "to save or heal" and refers to some of the plants in this genus's ability to be used for their medicinal properties. It is typically found in prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, and woodland edges. It is native to the south-central United States and northeast Mexico. It is hardy from zones 8 to 10, and it is frequently grown as an annual in areas where it will not survive in winter. ![]() The plant grows in thick, rounded clumps and up to 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The nectar of the flowers attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Their coarsely serrated, green leaves are aromatic, and they are borne on squared stems. They bloom intermittently from spring until frost. Mealycup sage is a tender herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae or mint family that has a long blooming season and attractive spikes of small violet-blue flowers. Phonetic Spelling SAL-vee-ah fair-in-ah-SAY-ah Description
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