Salvia microphylla Anduus

Salvia microphylla 'Anduus' is a beautiful shrubby sage that produces elegant white flowers with pale pink lips from May until the frost. Its floribundity and small, aromatic, semi-evergreen leaves make this plant a precious ally for sunny and warm terraces and gardens. Robust, but moderately hardy, it will need protection in cold regions.

The small-leaved sage 'Anduus' belongs to the large family of Lamiaceae, which offers the gardener numerous aromatic and ornamental plants (thyme, rosemary, catnip, agastache...). This variety comes from a group of salvias native to the mountains of Central America, which gives them an impressive hardiness of about -10°C (14°F). These salvias are woody: their stems harden and form wood which can be damaged by severe frost, especially in cold climates. The foliage is semi-evergreen in mild climates, small and ovate, and delightfully aromatic, with hints of mint and lemon. This fragrance is particularly pronounced in hot and dry weather, and the essential oils often make the leaves a bit sticky.
Between June and October (or even longer if the weather is mild), 'Anduus' sage produces numerous delicate flowers, white with a candy pink lip. The dark calyx adds an interesting contrast to the whole. It will reach about 70 cm (28in) in height and 80 cm (32in) in width.

The origins of the 'Anduus' shrubby sage make it well adapted to sunny, dry, slightly rocky (even limestone) soils, but only moderately hardy: it will grow without problems in mild and warm climates but will require winter protection if the temperatures frequently drop below -10°C - in which case, grow it in a pot and bring it indoors as soon as frost is expected. If you want to plant it outside in a cold region, make sure to provide it with a well-protected location, sheltered from cold winds. Perfect in rock gardens, dry borders, and pots, this sage will form beautiful combinations with other related salvias like 'Aphrodite', as well as with perennials like common oregano, Alpine savory, Acinos alpinus, or grasses like Pennisetum 'Karley Rose'.