About
An upright perennial with lyre-shaped leaves and small, reddish-purple flowers borne in long, dense, interrupted spikes on reddish stems in summer.
About the genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCoastal, Cottage and informal garden, City and courtyard gardens, Gravel garden, Mediterranean climate plants, Wildlife gardens
Care notes
CultivationGrow in well-drained soil and full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds
PruningCut back faded flower spikes to prolong flowering
PropagationTake basal stem cuttings in late spring; stem-tip cuttings in late summer or in early autumn and propagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids, capsid bug, leafhoppers and rosemary beetle
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots