Blue Sage

Pests & beneficial insects

🐛 Prone to: Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

.

Attract Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Lacewings

Lacewings

Chrysopidae

Golden-eyed adults that mostly drink; larvae that hunt like small alligators.

, Ladybugs

Ladybugs

Coccinellidae

The one predator here where the adults hunt as hard as the larvae do.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

to keep them in check — plant African MarigoldGreat, AngelicaFair and AniseGreat nearby.

🌼 Beneficial companion — draws Hoverflies

Hoverflies

Syrphidae

The adults only drink nectar. It is the larvae that eat the aphids.

, Parasitic wasps

Parasitic wasps

Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and relatives

Pinhead-sized, stingless, and lethal to aphids and caterpillars from the inside.

that help control Aphids

Aphids

Aphididae

Curled leaves, sticky honeydew and ants on patrol — usually with something already eating them.

,

on neighbouring plants.

Growing from seed

Start Blue Sage indoors about 8 weeks before your last frost. Seeds usually come up in around 21 days. Move seedlings out once the danger of frost has passed, in full sun, spaced about 60 cm apart. Expect the first blooms in roughly 120 days.

Keep track of the seeds you own.

Companion Planting

• 
  Coral Bells
  

  Coral BellsExcellent pair

  • ❧Coral Bells attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids that attack Blue Sage
  • ❧Blue Sage draws Bees and Bumblebees and more that improve pollination for both
  • ❧Blue Sage roots deep while Coral Bells feeds near the surface — no competition
• 
  Wild Garlic
  

  Wild GarlicExcellent pair

  • ❧Wild Garlic attracts Hoverflies, which prey on the Aphids and Thrips that attack Blue Sage
  • ❧Blue Sage roots deep while Wild Garlic feeds near the surface — no competition
  • ❧Wild Garlic acts as living mulch, keeping soil moist and weeds down around Blue Sage
• 
  Red Mustard
  

  Red MustardExcellent pair

  • ❧Red Mustard attracts Hoverflies and Parasitic wasps, which prey on the Aphids and Flea beetles and more that attack Blue Sage
  • ❧Red Mustard suppresses pests that trouble Blue Sage
  • ❧Red Mustard acts as living mulch, keeping soil moist and weeds down around Blue Sage

How to grow Blue Sage

1. Sow8 weeks before frost
2. Germinates21 days
3. Space60 cm apart
4. GrowFull sun
5. Harvest~120 days

Water: Low · Height: 150 cm · Soil: Well-draining, average — drought-tolerant