Definition

Noun: 1. A perennial herb of the southwestern United States and Mexico: Specifically, Salvia farinacea, a plant in the mint family (Lamiaceae) known for its distinctive flower color and powdery appearance on its stems and leaves. 2. A common name for a specific ornamental sage: It refers to a cultivated garden plant valued for its long-lasting, intensely blue flowers and its tolerance to heat and drought.

Usage

• As a common noun for the plant: The term is used to identify this specific species of sage in gardening, horticulture, and botanical contexts.
  • The mealy sage is a excellent choice for a water-wise garden border.
  • Butterflies are attracted to the nectar of mealy sage.
• Describing its characteristics: The name itself describes a key feature; "mealy" refers to the white, powdery or flour-like (farinaceous) coating on the stems and calyces.
  • You can identify mealy sage by the fine, white hairs on its flower spikes.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical classification: The term is used to distinguish from other sage species, such as common sage () or scarlet sage ().
  • For a cooler color palette, the gardener recommended mealy sage over the more common red varieties.

Variants and Related Words

• Salvia farinacea: The scientific (Latin) binomial name for the plant.
• Blue sage: A frequent common name alternative, describing its flower color.
• Mealycup sage: Another common name, emphasizing the powdery ("mealy") cup-like structure (calyx) that holds the blue flowers.
• Farinaceous: (Adjective) Having a mealy or powdery texture, from which the common name is derived.

Synonyms

• Blue sage
• Mealycup sage
• Salvia farinacea (scientific name)

Different Meanings

• "Mealy" as a separate adjective: When used independently, "mealy" typically describes a dry, soft, and crumbly texture, like that of overcooked potatoes or certain apples. It is not directly related to the plant unless combined with "sage."
• "Sage" as a separate noun: Independently, "sage" can refer to: 1) a wise person, or 2) the culinary herb (). The compound term "mealy sage" specifies a particular ornamental species.

Noun

1. Texas sage having intensely blue flowers