Description

Among the many selections of Cleveland sage, ‘Alpine’ has much to recommend it. It grows in a fairly dense, rounded form typical of the species, but to a height of only four feet. The leaves are dark green held against purple stems. In a natural setting, cleveland sage is partially deciduous during the hot, dry months of summer. The appearance during dormancy is not acceptable to most gardeners. The ‘Allen Chickering’ and ‘Winifred Gilman’ selections will exhibit this same dormancy without summer water. The ‘Alpine’ selection, however, can be kept dry and maintain an acceptable appearance. ‘Alpine’ is one of the last of the S. clevelandii selections to bloom, showing off its lavender flowers in early summer. To maintain a cleaner appearance, the flower stocks may be removed in the fall. Remove these and any other branch but do not cut back into the old wood unless no new growth is desired; only cut back to the last node with leaf bud or stem to stimulate spring growth at that location.