Salvia argentea Plant Particulars Zones: 5-8 Height: 3 ft in bloom Spread: 24 inches Shape: Second year flowers form an upright spray, decorative first year foliage stays low to the ground Color: white flower Bloom time: early summer Light needs: full sun Soil: well drained Special Note: Grown for the fuzzy rosette of first year foliage more than for the flower Easily mistaken for mullein or lambs' ears, silver sage is highly touchable. This is one biennial to grow for the unique foliage and not for the flower. Like other hairy plants, it thrives in dry sites and hot sun, so nestle it between rocks and surround it with lacy verbena, or plant it solo in a pot. As the summer heats up, the fuzzy foliage will get bigger and whiter, until each leaf is about the size of a small cat, and almost as furry. The following spring, you think it will repeat its performance, but before long, up shoots a well-branched flower stalk. The white flowers are beautiful—for a week or so. To thwart its reproductive desires, brutally chop the flower stalks off at the base. This causes the plant to produce luscious new leaves.
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