Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg'
Salvia farinacea ‘Henry Duelberg’ is a Texas‑selected mealycup sage known for sturdy growth and deep blue spikes. It stands out for reliability in heat and drought once established. It performs best in full sun and draining soils and is perennial across warm parts of North America. Bloom runs from spring to frost with a stronger flush in cooler weather. This cultivar was discovered by horticulturist Greg Grant in a Central Texas cemetery and later promoted as a Texas Superstar plant.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Mealycup sage (selection)
- Height × spread: 36 in × 36 in (91 cm × 91 cm)
- Bloom window: spring to frost
- Color & flower form: medium to dark blue spikes on upright stems
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: 7-10; grown as annual north of zone 7
- Breeder / Year / Origin: Greg Grant, 2006, USA (Texas)
- Awards/registration: Texas Superstar designation
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Taller and more floriferous than many modern mealycup cultivars in hot summers.
- Holds color and form through heat better than typical bedding selections.
- Known for dependable rebloom after shearing.
Strengths
- Heat and drought tolerance after establishment.
- Long bloom window with periodic shearing.
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
- Generally low pest pressure.
Care in one minute
- Site: full sun.
- Soil: well‑drained; tolerates a range from sandy to clay if drainage is good.
- Water: moderate; deep, infrequent watering encourages roots.
- Feeding: light; avoid heavy nitrogen.
- Grooming: shear spent spikes between cycles to promote quick rebloom.
- Overwintering: mulch in the upper South; take cuttings as insurance in colder regions.
Watch‑outs
- Flowering can slow in peak summer heat; stronger again in fall.
- Mildew can appear in crowded, humid sites.
- Not reliably hardy in cold winters without protection.
Best uses (tags)
borders; massing; xeric plantings; pollinators; cutting
Provenance note
Selected by Greg Grant from a graveyard population in Central Texas and named for Henry Duelberg; promoted statewide as a Texas Superstar beginning in 2006.
References
- Texas Superstar – ‘Henry Duelberg’ Salvia
- Denton County Master Gardeners – Plant Facts: Salvia ‘Henry Duelberg’
- Wisconsin Horticulture – Mealycup sage (species profile with cultivar notes)
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Salvia farinacea (species profile)
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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