Lyreleaf Sage's lavender flowers bloom in whorls along the stem from the bottom up, lasting from late spring into summer. Butterflies, including Monarchs, as well as hummingbirds and native bees seek out Lyreleaf Sage for its nectar. Birds eat the seeds.
A plant for most occasions, it tolerates periodic flooding and drought, once established, and thrives in sunny or partly shady spots, with a preference for some shade.
A great lawn alternative, Lyreleaf Sage's basal leaves are evergreen and tolerate foot traffic -- and loosely resemble a lyre. Try Lyreleaf Sage instead of the invasive Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans.
In the wild, Lyre-leaf Sage grows in forests, well-drained floodplains, rocky slopes and along roadsides and in fields.
As with most members of Lamiaceae, or the Mint family, deer and rabbits largely avoid it.
Fun Fact: Lyreleaf Sage also is called Cancer Weed because of early, and unsuccessful, attempts to use the plant to treat cancer.
Lyreleaf Sage
- Latin: Salvia lyrata
- Pollinator value: Very High
- Height: 1-2 feet
- Light: Full to part sun
- Soil: Medium to wet
- Bloom: Lavender, spring to summer
- Landscape: Meadow, native garden, lawn alternative
- Resistance: Deer, wet, foot traffic
- Native range here