Sea Foam Sage
Sea Foam sage is a vigorously growing groundcover with silver foliage. Fine, lacy leaves cover the mounded plant.
It is grown for its attractive foliage, which looks nice next to plants with larger or greener leaves.It spreads through underground stems and can fill in an area over time.
Sea Foam sage differs from other Artemisias because it will produce upright stalks with tiny, insignificant flowers in summer. These can be cut off to highlight the leaves, if desired.
Sea Foam Sage
Sea Foam sage is a vigorously growing groundcover with silver foliage. Fine, lacy leaves cover the mounded plant.
It is grown for its attractive foliage, which looks nice next to plants with larger or greener leaves.It spreads through underground stems and can fill in an area over time.
Sea Foam sage differs from other Artemisias because it will produce upright stalks with tiny, insignificant flowers in summer. These can be cut off to highlight the leaves, if desired.
Plant details
Botanic Name
Artemisia versicolor 'Sea Foam'
Pronunciation
ar-teh-MEEZ-ee-uh VER-suh-kuh-lor
Mature Height
6 to 12 in.
Mature Spread
18 to 30 in.
Water usage
One Droplet: Water twice per month or less, once established.
Two Droplets: Water about once per week, once established.
Three Droplets: Water about twice per week, once established.
Flower Color
white, but insignificant
Bloom time
midsummer
Colorado Native
No
Natural Habitat
cultivated variety
Light Requirements
sun
Cold Hardiness
USDA zones 5-8
Elevation Limit
hardy to 7,000 ft.
Performance
Sea Foam sage has grown well at the Water Wise Demonstration Garden.
We prefer to cut off the flower stalks when they appear since its best quality is its beautiful foliage. It needs to be cut back in late winter periodically to prevent the stems from growing too long and flopping.
In some areas with overhead sprinklers, Sea Foam sage has developed a leaf fungus. It seems to grow best in areas with drip irrigation.
It has been a very drought-tolerant plant.
Maintenance
To keep the plant compact and tidy, cut the flower stalks back to the level of the mounding branches in summer.
In late winter, cut the branches back to about 2 inches above ground level to prevent long, floppy stems from developing.