General Culture:

Best grown in poor to moderately fertile, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Excellent soil drainage is essential for growing this plant well. Does poorly in moist to wet soils where plants are susceptible to root rot. Plant stems tend to lodge (fall) in summer, especially if grown in fertile soils and/or part shade. General foliage decline commonly occurs in high humidity summer climates such as the St. Louis area. Consider pinching back stems in late spring to reduce mature plant height. If foliage declines or stems flop in summer, plants may be sheared to revitalize. Although rhizomatous, 'Valerie Finnis' is generally quite restrained and is not considered to be as aggressive in the garden as the species and some of the other cultivars thereunder.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

'Valerie Finnis' is a compact cultivar which features stems and leaves that are silvery-white and pubescent. It is a generally upright perennial that is grown for its attractive foliage which adds contrast to gardens. The tiny, somewhat inconspicuous, yellowish-gray, discoid flower heads (rays absent) which appear in dense panicles at the stem ends in summer have little ornamental value. 'Valerie Finnis' typically forms a clump of generally erect, non-woody stems to 18-24" tall and as wide. Narrow lance-shaped leaves (to 4" long) may be lobed near the tips. Foliage is aromatic when bruised. Species is native to the western United States including Missouri and is commonly called white sage. A Royal Horticutural Society of Great Britain Award of Garden Merit plant (1993).