Salvia (ornamental sage)

About Salvia (ornamental sage)

Ornamental salvias are the flowering cousins of kitchen sage (see the separate "sage" entry), with spikes of tubular flowers in red, blue, purple, pink and white from early summer to frost. They are some of the most reliable hummingbird plants you can grow: Clemson calls them hummingbird favorites, and in Chicago Botanic Garden's trial the dark purple 'Amistad' drew hummingbirds all season. Some are hardy perennials (woodland sage S. nemorosa, autumn sage S. greggii), while scarlet sage, pineapple sage, anise sage and bedding sage are tender and are grown as annuals in colder zones. One catch: NC State notes that many bedding cultivars of S. splendens have been bred with no nectar, so pick nectar-rich kinds for hummingbirds.

Depends on the species: woodland sage is hardy in zones 4-8, autumn sage 6-9, anise sage ('Black and Blue') about 7-10, pineapple and scarlet sage 8-10, and bedding sage only 10-11 (NC State); the tender kinds are grown as summer annuals everywhere else. Heads-up: meadow clary (Salvia pratensis) is a Class A noxious weed in Washington, where it is illegal to buy, sell or plant (Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

• Start seeds indoors: 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost

Set plants out in spring after the danger of frost has passed (Clemson). Start bedding sage indoors 6-8 weeks ahead and don't cover the seed, since it needs light to sprout (Clemson; NC State); Clemson starts other salvias about 12 weeks ahead. Woodland sage and autumn sage are hardy perennials; the rest are frost-tender.

Soil

Well-drained soil; most salvias are quite drought-tolerant once established, and too much water or fertilizer invites fungal disease (Clemson). Bedding sage (S. splendens) is the exception and needs regular water (NC State).

Follow a soil test; work compost into the bed and make sure it drains well. Clemson amends the soil only as a soil test directs.

Feeding

• perennial salvias, early spring as new growth starts (only if a soil test or weak growth calls for it): complete slow-release fertilizer such as 12-6-6. Clemson says perennial salvias in compost-enriched soil usually need no extra feeding; if you do feed, use a light hand (about 1-2 lb of 12-6-6 per 100 sq ft) and water it in.

Too much fertilizer and water make salvias more prone to fungal diseases (Clemson).

Harvest

Most kinds bloom from early summer until frost. Cut faded spikes back during summer to push out new flowers; woodland sage reblooms if you cut spent stems back to the leaves at the base (Clemson; NC State). Leave the stems of hardy salvias standing over winter and cut them back in spring when new growth shows (Clemson).

Varieties (24)

Pests to watch for

Aphids, Twospotted spider mite, Whiteflies, Mealybugs, Thrips

Diseases and problems

Powdery mildew, Gray mold, Damping off, Root rot, Southern blight, Rust

In the kitchen

Pineapple sage flowers are edible, with a sweet, fruity, slightly minty taste, and its pineapple-scented leaves are used in tea, jams, jellies and cream cheese (NC State). For kitchen sage, see the separate sage entry.

Safety: The extension sources we checked list no toxic parts for these ornamental salvias. Only eat pineapple sage blooms you have grown without pesticides.

Pets: Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea) and common sage are listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA); other ornamental salvias have no ASPCA entry.