Salvia miltiorrhiza

When we first planted the Chinese medicinal sage, Salvia miltiorrhiza (danshen) in 2013, we weren't sure it would survive here, but to our delight, it didn't just survive, it thrived, producing a spectacular garden ornamental. The 2' tallx 2' wideclump of deeply-lobed green basal leaves is topped in May and June with an abundance of branched spikes of large blue-purple flowers. Native to open forests and grassy slopes to 4000' in both China and Japan, Salvia miltiorrhiza root extract has been used to treat cardiovascular (angina, hypertension) and cerebrovascular diseases (strokes), renal failure, pancreatitis, and as a cancer treatment. To start your own neighborhood pharmacy, find some well-draining soil and a site with half day sun.