Platinum sage
Salvia daghestanica
Platinum sage (Salvia daghestanica) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 1 ft tall and 1–2 ft wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Silver leaves + violet-blue blooms. Plant Select 'Petites' selection, true xeric mini-shrub.
low water1 ft tall and 1–2 ft wideXeric / water-wisePlant Select®Deer-resistant
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Hellstrips / parking strips, Hot south- or west-facing walls
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 1 ft tall and 1–2 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~2 ft apart (1 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Growth rate
- Moderate
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Bloom color
- purple, blue
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Planting & establishment
Water sparingly even during the first summer, these xeric species are prone to crown rot from overwatering, especially in clay. Once established, no supplemental water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Platinum sage good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Platinum sage is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Platinum sage get?
- It matures to about 1 ft tall and 1–2 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Platinum sage?
- Space Platinum sage about 2 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 1 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Platinum sage hardy on the Front Range?
- Platinum sage is hardy in USDA 4–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Platinum sage need?
- It needs low water once established.
- How fast does Platinum sage grow?
- Platinum sage is a moderate-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- Is Platinum sage native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Platinum sage deer-resistant?
- Platinum sage is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Platinum sage a Plant Select® winner?
- Yes. Platinum sage is in Plant Select®, the plant-recommendation program run by Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens to highlight plants that thrive in the region.
