Knowing how to grow sage plants will bring your garden plot to life with color, life, and vitality.
Once summer fades and the sun sinks deeper than ever, it beautifies all flower bed ideas, but one group in particular shines with an intensity that sets it apart. These are salvia shrubs: small, tidy shrubs lavishly decorated with countless small, gem-like flowers in shades of amethyst, garnet, topaz or opal. Beginning in early summer, sagebrush plants shine radiantly through summer mist and fall haze, until weakened by the dust of frost.
Originating largely in Mexico and the southernmost states of the United States, today’s shrub sage plants combine the wild beauty of the wildflower with the skill of modern breeders who produce hybrids in a wide range of colors and shapes.
“I love growing sage, and there are a few other plants that bloom almost non-stop from May through November — you can even find some flowering on Christmas Day,” said William Dyson, a sage specialist who breeds new varieties. Captivating for his nursery. , Dyson Nurseries, is famous.
How to grow salvias
Perennial sage plants (also known as sage) are mainstays of garden borders during the midsummer season. Planted in spring, these fragrant delights are loved by bees, making them perfect for your wildlife garden ideas.
Sagebrush plants are generally very hardy plants and produce large quantities of flowers over a very long season, provided their main requirements of full sun and good drainage are met.
This Mediterranean plant loves a sunny, south-facing location if it is to thrive, and many are happy to settle their roots directly into the gravel, which of course makes it the perfect complement to your Mediterranean garden ideas.
Where is the best place to plant salvias?
“Plant your plants in full sun with shelter from cold winds,” says gardening expert Sarah Raven. “It depends on the variety, but in general salvia seeds can be planted under cover in early spring,” she says. “They can also be direct sown in late spring and summer.”
In areas with harsh winters, it is recommended to plant sage bushes in the spring, in order to provide a long growing season for them to take root.
To achieve maximum impact, shrub plants can be planted in large quantities, and with a wide range of colours, there are plenty of options for either a coordinated display of pinks, purples and reds, or a mix of vibrant shades.
(Image credit: Getty Images/Serirac)
Should salvia be cut back?
Downsizing your sage plants and learning how to prune them is one of the most important aspects of growing sage bushes that you should be proud to display in your backyard.
You will need to prune twice a year to promote plant health and encourage tree growth. It is recommended that you cut as low as possible without damaging any new growth.
(Image credit: Future)
Can you grow salvia in containers?
For backyards with heavy clay soil, growing sage plants in containers is the best way to ensure they don’t die in waterlogged soil in the winter. However, salvia is drought-tolerant, and in pots it does not require regular watering except during long periods of heat. Add horticultural granules to the compost to improve drainage, and unlike those planted in open ground, container-grown sage plants benefit from feeding in the spring with a fertilizer high in potash.
Does salvia like wet soil?
The short answer is no. Salvias will tolerate a variety of soil types, provided they are well-drained, but they do not tolerate cold, wet winters in flooded land.
It grows best in sunny, sheltered locations, and although it tolerates low light levels and partial shade, it blooms less prolifically, is light-oriented, and is an unprofitable shape.
What plants go well with salvia?
Salvias are well suited to drought-tolerant conditions and pair well with plants of a similar nature. Good choices for low-maintenance garden borders include echinops (ball thistle), dianthus, ceanothus, Centranthus Ruber (valerian), Cistus x cyprius (gum cistus), island beds of Euphorbia Characias (Mediterranean Surge), ornamental grasses and artemisia.
“Because sage plants bloom so late, they are also good partners with spring bulbs that will be gone by summer, and their drooping foliage can be hidden by emerging sage plants,” says Sarah Raven.
Take a cue from the Victorian era, which planted formal designs with vibrant bedding plants such as heliotrope, pelargonium, petunia, verbena, and sage, or use perennials that are less labor-intensive and attract pollinators.
