Salvia Icterina Bicolor, also known as Salvia Officinalis 'Icterina Bicolor', Common Sage, or Garden Sage, is native to the Balkan Peninsula. Salvia Icterina Bicolor is an aromatic, ornamental cultivar with cream and green variegated foliage and spikes of light purple flowers in spring. With an upright habit of 16" tall, spreading to 20", this plant delights the senses in culinary, decorative, and medicinal applications. Sage does well in full sun with minimal water and is hardy in zone 7-9. The herbaceous perennial excels in borders, rock gardens, herb gardens, and containers. For a superior culinary variety, try Salvia Grower's Friend. For a primarily ornamental Sage, try Salvia Pineapple.
This Variety Also Available Certified Organic
Salvia Icterina Bicolor Selling Tips
Sell Salvia Icterina Bicolor to customers looking for an ornamental, aromatic plant for landscape borders or a more visually unique Sage variety. Icterina Bicolor has variegated foliage with purple flower spikes, and it offers many benefits to your customer. It is low-maintenance, attracts pollinators, and has many culinary, ornamental, and medicinal uses. Grow Sage with Rosemary, Cabbage, and Carrots in the herb or vegetable garden. It typically repels insects, deer, and rabbits in the landscape. This variety flourishes in full sun with minimal water and is an exceptional choice for containers, gardens, or landscape borders.
Coach Your Customer
1. Plant Sage in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Space plants 18-24 inches apart and water occasionally or less in wet weather.
2. Though this plant is hardy in zone 7-9, it is best grown as an annual or replaced every couple of years to keep the foliage fresh and full.
General Growing Tips For Your Rooted Cutting Liner
For best results with Salvia Icterina Bicolor, use light, well-drained soil with a constant liquid feed program of 150-200 ppm N on well-rooted plants and a pH of 5.5-6.5. Plant one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Pinch once 5-10 days after transplanting. You may see aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies in greenhouse conditions. Though Salvia isn't prone to disease, take precautions to prevent root rot.
Flowering
Light purple flower spikes bloom in spring.
Pinching
Pinch once, 5-10 days after transplanting.
Spacing
Space 4-inch containers as needed to allow airflow and penetration of light between plants. Salvia Icterina Bicolor can grow to a 20" spread. We do not recommend planting rooted plugs in 1801 or other traditional market trays as they tend to get leggy and can develop fungus when they have insufficient space.
Height Control
We do not recommend using chemical growth regulators on herbs.
Pests
In the greenhouse, you may see aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. In landscape and garden applications, Sage is generally insect-repellent and attracts pollinators.
Disease
Salvia Icterina Bicolor isn't disease prone but avoid oversaturating the soil. If the plant sits in moist soil at length, you could end up with root rot or botrytis. Botrytis grey rot tends to occur in wet or humid conditions. Take these steps to prevent botrytis: water in the morning and allow the plant to dry out between waterings; provide good airflow in your greenhouse; space plants so the sun can penetrate to the soil level. To best fight root rot in herbs, use a garden-safe fungicide, like Neem Oil.
Planting Salvia Icterina Bicolor Liners
We recommend planting one rooted liner per 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil and completely bury the ellepot in the middle of the pot.
Rooted Cuttings
Cuttings vary in size between different plant families. These rooted starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Herb Salvia Icterina Bicolor Quick Reference Guide
| 4 Inch crop time | 6-8 Weeks |
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| Bloom Period | Spring |
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| Color | Light Purple |
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| Habit | Upright |
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| Height | 16 inches |
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| Light | Full Sun, Partial Shade |
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| Minimum Temp | 57 |
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| Perennial Zone | Zones 7-9 |
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| Water Needs | Light |
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| Patented Plant | No |
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