Species

Salvia involucrata

Common Name(s)

Rose Leaf Sage

Authority

Salvia involucrata Cav.

Family

Lamiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Habitat

So far known as a garden escape at one site, Auckland Zoo. Here a small number of plants grow along an old garden wall and extend well into a shrubbery. A few grow in wasteland along the Motions Creek where it passes through the zoo grounds.

Flower Colours

Red / Pink

Year Naturalised

2004

Origin

Mexico

Reason For Introduction
Ornamental

Life Cycle Comments
Perennial subshrub to shrub - dies back in cold weather

Reproduction
Appears to be asexual by layering - seed apparently not formed in New Zealand

Seed
Not seen in New Zealand

Dispersal
Spread through garden waste and along water ways, natural spread from established plants is th einitial process followed by accidental or deliberate by fragmentation of plants

Tolerances
Cold sensitive - very drought and shade tolerant

This page last updated on 4 Mar 2010