10 Ways to do Herb Gardening in Fall

Lyreleaf Sage

Lyreleaf Sage: Salvia Lyrata Lyreleaf Sage is a perennial wildflower characterized by its delicate, lyre-shaped leaves and spikes of tubular, purple-to-blue flowers. It is often found in dry, open woodlands and meadows. When thoughtfully integrated into landscaping designs, it presents a range of benefits. Its distinctive appearance, adaptability, contributions to biodiversity, and potential for enhancing outdoor spaces' visual and ecological aspects make it a valuable addition to gardens and landscapes. Lyreleaf Sage Produces Flowers Annually  Also known as Salvia lyrata, it is an herbaceous perennial. This means that its stems usually do not consist of any woodsy parts. It produces flowers annually before losing them every winter and usually lives for over two years.  Also, being described as "sage" means that it is a hardy, vigorous plant that can withstand being walked on much more than is the case for many other types of greenery. It is also known for its ability to resist, especially wet or dry conditions. This plant is the only one with this specific description native to North America. It should not be confused with the nightshade, an East Asian flowering plant. Lyreleaf Sage Has A Long Stem With Blooms This hairy perennial grows a rosette of leaves at its base, and those leaves, which have irregular margins, can extend up to 8 inches. Its stem usually reaches 1-2 feet long, and leaves typically grow higher, although those located there are much simpler. Its leaves are dark green for much of the year, usually changing to dark purple in the winter. Flowering tends to happen more extensively in April, May, and June, although it can occur sporadically throughout the year, with fall commonly being another significant time. These blue or violet flowers reach an inch long and attract butterflies and hummingbirds, while bees are their predominant pollinators. The natural settings for most of these flowering plants include open areas and along forest edges. It is also commonly found in clearings, meadows, and sand. Many use it in gardens and lawns. It's native area is spread throughout much of the eastern half of the United States, specifically from Connecticut south to Florida and west to Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. It has bright blue flowers that bloom over spring and summer and are a precious resource to bees and butterfly lovers. It's easily identified by its pretty, shiny leaves shaped like a lyre.  You can cultivate it in the spring after the last frost has passed, and ensure you space the plants 12 to 18 inches apart. It is essential to water young plants frequently in order to help them start root development. Dead flowers should be deadheaded to make way for newer ones and prune the plant during early spring. This plant can be propagated by dividing existing plants or by using stem cuttings. Just obtain a cutting with some nodes and put it in the soil to produce roots.  Grow it at the edges of borders, as a groundcover, or in a rocky garden to add color and texture. This shrub has a low growing habit coupled with beautiful flowers, making it very suitable for different landscaping models.  Lyreleaf Sage lives for around two to three years. However, it is able to self-seed, thus allowing them to emerge each year.