
These salvia are an excellent choice for gardeners across most of the United States. Old Wolrd Salvia: The Old World Salvia include some of the very best, most durable, longest-lived perennials. This allows the plant's crown (junction of root and branches) to mature and obtain maximum cold hardiness. Cover each plant with a generous pile of clean straw or pine needles. Protect your new plants over their first winter or two in your garden.
To get established in USDA zones 5 & 6, Western Salvia (noted above) must be planted in spring or early summer, not in the fall.
Salvia azurea and Salvia reptans - Early fall bloomers with excellent cold hardiness. Salvia pachyphylla and Salvia dorrii is recommended for arid western gardens. Salvia hybrids - ‘Maraschino’, ‘Raspberry Delight’, ‘Ultra Violet’ and ‘Burgundy Seduction’. Salvia greggii - ‘Furman’s Red’, ‘Cold Hardy Pink’. They will grow in dry clay conditions in arid climates but will rot out in clay soils where there is more than about 15 to 18” of precipitation annually. Typically, this group of Salvia prefer ‘lean’ (not very fertile), well drained soils. For attracting hummingbirds, there are no finer flowers than the Western native sages. Western Native Salvia: : It is from the Western US that we find our most beautiful native salvia species. Mound up pine needles or fallen autumn leaves over and around the base of the plant. In colder USDA zones (zone 6 and below) it is essential to give Native Southwestern and Southwestern hybrids protection from the extreme cold their first couple winters in the garden. During fall garden clean-up, wait to cut back the plants until spring for improved cold hardiness. Once established they will need regular, deep irrigation during hot, dry weather. New transplants need regular irrigation their first growing season to establish themselves. Many spring-flowering varieties of sage will re-bloom in fall if deadheaded after the first bloom. Plant Old World Salvia in a wide range of soils (loams, sand) including clay. Plant native Western Salvia varieties in soil that is low fertility and well-drained. It is happiest in a well-drained sandy or gravelly soil and kept on the dry side.Salvia (commonly referred to as ‘Sage’) represent a huge family of ornamental plants that attract a variety of pollinators to their nectar rich flowers. Low maintenance is the mantra of this wonderful perennial, as it does not require deadheading, except when cut back in early spring. For added contrast in the garden, combine its whispy stems with stronger leaved plants like yucca or agave. Autumn Sapphire™ sage is an excellent nectar source for late season pollinators such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It’s willowly appearance is a nice addition to meadow gardens, xeriscapes and especially wildlife gardens. Combine with bright colors such as red, yellow and orange for show-stopping fall color. Autumn Sapphire sage is the culmination of many years of evaluation and rigorous selection to bring to market a plant that blooms well at the end of the season and has all the best qualities that Texas grass sage has to offer.Ĭome late summer, numerous cobalt blue flowers erupt from the finely textured, pungent foliage. Among the varying seed-grown plants two selections were narrowed down for another round of evaluations. AUTUMN SAGE SEEDS TRIAL
Seeds of the hardiest plants were collected on and grown in the trial gardens at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and at the Chatfield campus of Denver Botanic Gardens. Texas grass sage was brought to the attention of Plant Select by Lauren Springer Ogden and several gardeners of the Denver Botanic Gardens.