PLANT OF THE MONTH- September

by Sigrie Kendrick

Salvia farinacea

Long-blooming, low-water annual For Okanagan gardeners seeking a long-blooming, low-water annual, Salvia farinacea ‘Unplugged White’ deserves a spot on the shortlist. This Proven Winners selection of Mealycup sage produces upright spikes of pure white flowers set against silvery, felted calyxes, making for a striking contrast that reads well from a distance and holds its own in mixed borders or containers. Native to the dry prairies and calcareous soils of Texas, New Mexico, and northern Mexico, Salvia farinacea brings genuine drought pedigree to the garden. Its fibrous root system allows established plants to tolerate extended dry spells, making ‘Unplugged White’ an excellent choice for xeriscape plantings. That said, container specimens and young plants benefit from more consistent moisture, particularly through the Okanagan’s hot, dry summer peak.

Hardy only to USDA zones 8–10, ‘Unplugged White’ is grown as an annual here rather than a returning perennial, worth mentioning for gardeners planning multi-year xeric beds who may be expecting a plant that overwinters. Its appeal lies instead in season-long performance, with blooms appearing from late spring through the first hard frost. As an added bonus, this Salvia requires no deadheading to keep flowering, a genuine time-saver for busy gardeners.

Beyond its ornamental value, ‘Unplugged White’ is a strong pollinator plant, attracting bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout its bloom period. It’s also deer-resistant, a practical consideration for many Okanagan properties browsed by visiting deer.

Give Salvia farinacea full sun to light shade and well-drained soil, and it will reward you with reliable structure and colour where many other annuals fade in the summer heat.

As a water-wise annual accent, rather than a permanent xeric structural plant, ‘Unplugged White’ pairs naturally with OXA’s perennial favourites, offering season-long white contrast against the likes of Berberis thunbergii ‘Rose Glow’ and Sambucus racemosa ‘Lemony Lace’.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.