Mountain sage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain sage |
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Salvia regla is a beautiful plant often called Mountain Sage. It's a type of perennial shrub, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also deciduous, meaning it loses its leaves each year, usually in the fall or winter. This special plant grows naturally in a small part of the Chisos Mountains in west Texas. You can also find it in larger areas of Mexico, especially in the states of Coahuila, Durango, and Oaxaca.
Some people believe its name, regla, comes from a town called Regla in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Many people lovingly call Salvia regla the "queen of the Chisos Mountains" because of its beauty. It's super important for nature, especially for hummingbirds! This plant is often grown along the "Texas flyway," which is a path that birds use when they migrate. Hummingbirds rely on Salvia regla's flowers for food when they fly back to warmer places in September and October.
What is Mountain Sage?
Salvia regla is a type of shrub that can grow quite tall, reaching up to 6 feet (about 1.8 meters) high. It can also spread out, becoming about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) wide. It has strong, upright stems that make it look very grand and impressive.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Mountain Sage are a pretty mistletoe-green color. They are shaped like a triangle, which is called "deltoid," and have deep veins that make them look interesting. Each leaf is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long and wide.
The flowers are truly eye-catching! Each flower has a tube that is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. What makes them stand out is the bright, signal-red part called the calyx. The calyx is like a cup that holds the flower, and it turns towards the light. On the underside, this red calyx is a light green color, often described as chartreuse.
History and Cultivars
Even though Salvia regla was first brought into gardens and plant collections (this is called horticulture) way back in 1839, it wasn't very common for a long time. It only started to become popular in the 1980s. Today, many plant nurseries sell different types of Salvia regla. These different types are called cultivars, and they might have slightly different colors or growing habits. Some popular cultivars include 'Royal', 'Mount Emory', and 'Warnock's Choice'.
Images for kids
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The bright red flowers of Salvia regla are a favorite for hummingbirds.
