You can consider cutting it back to the bottom of the plant, just above ground level. Plants will regrow fresh leaves and the next round of blooms.
Image Credit:
Sonia Bonet
Botanical Name
Salvia spp.
Grown as
Toxicity
Sun Exposure
Water Needs
Height
Spread
Soil pH
Resilience
Plant Type
Planting
When to Plant Salvia
Spring is the best time to plant most salvias, after the last frost.
- Potted salvia: Plant outdoors after the last spring frost. Some salvias survive winter and come back year after year. If yours does, you can also plant it in early fall, several weeks before the first frost. Check the plant label or ask your garden center if you’re unsure.
- Salvia seeds: Start indoors about 6 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost, depending on the variety. Check your seed packet for timing.
Find your local frost dates with our Frost Dates Calculator.
Where to Plant Salvia
- Sunny location: Most salvias are happiest with at least 6 to 8 hours of sunshine a day. In hot summers, some lighter-colored annual salvias appreciate a little afternoon shade.
- Soil: Choose a spot where water doesn’t collect after rain. Salvia doesn’t like sitting in soggy soil! Avoid low spots and areas where water runs off the roof. See our guide to improving soil drainage if needed.
Credit: Mark Herreid
How to Plant Salvia
To plant salvia from nursery plants:
- Start by loosening the soil about 12 inches deep. Remove any large stones or roots you come across. If the soil is heavy or compacted, work in a little compost.
- Dig a hole about twice as wide as the plant’s pot, but no deeper than the root ball. Gently remove the plant from its pot and set it in the hole, keeping the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil. If you’re planting several salvias, leave about 1 to 3 feet between plants, depending on the variety.
- Carefully fill in around the plant, pressing the soil down gently. Water thoroughly, then add a light layer of mulch, keeping it away from the stems.
Growing salvia in a container? Use potting mix rather than garden soil. Smaller annual salvias can grow in pots about 8 to 10 inches wide, but larger plants need more room—often 3 to 5 gallons or more. Check the mature size on the plant label. Whatever you use, make sure the container has drainage holes!
To grow salvia from seeds:
- Fill a seed tray or small pots with damp seed-starting mix. Lightly press the seeds into the mix, following your seed packet’s instructions on whether to cover them.
- Keep the mix lightly moist, not soggy, while the seeds sprout. Once seedlings appear, give them plenty of light.
- When your seedlings are ready, help them adjust to outdoor life—this is known as “hardening off”—before planting them outside for good after the last spring frost.
Harvesting
When to Harvest
- Salvia flowers can be harvested for cut flowers and bouquets as soon as they begin to open.
- Harvest your salvias in the early morning if you can—flowers harvested then tend to last the longest!
How to Harvest
- Use sharp, clean pruners to snip the long flower stems free.
- Keep as many leaves in place as you can so the plants stay healthy.
- Try not to harvest more than one-third of your plant’s blooms at once. Pollinators like bees and butterflies rely on salvia flowers for nectar, so they need their share, too!
Storage
- Place your cut salvia flowers in a vase of fresh water as soon as you can, removing any leaves or blooms that would be underwater.
- Refresh the water daily and keep the flowers out of direct sunlight.
- Your salvia flowers should look lovely for about 5 to 7 days after harvesting!
Types
Not all salvias grow alike! There are hundreds of types. But here are four flowering favorites, each with its own charms and growing needs:
- Woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa): A dependable perennial with purple, pink, or violet-blue flower spikes. Comes back year after year, even in many colder climates. Cut back faded blooms for more flowers!
- Mealycup sage (S. farinacea): Beautiful blue or purple flower spikes that bloom for months. Usually grown as an annual in colder regions, but perennial in warmer areas.
- Pineapple sage (S. elegans): Bright red blooms and fruity-scented leaves. Flowers in late summer and fall, and is grown as an annual in colder regions.
- Autumn sage (S. greggii): Compact and shrubby, with flowers in a rainbow of colors. Loves the heat and can bloom from spring into fall in warmer climates.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is salvia a perennial?
Many salvias are perennials, meaning they come back year after year. But some are grown as annuals because they can’t survive cold winters. Check your plant label to see whether yours will return where you live.
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Should you deadhead salvia?
Yes—deadheading salvia is a great way to encourage another round of flowers. Just snip off the flower spikes after the flower is past its prime. -
Do salvias bloom all summer?
Some salvias flower through much of summer, while others wait until later in the season. Autumn sage has a long flowering season, whereas pineapple sage typically blooms in late summer and fall.
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Can salvia grow in shade?
While a few salvias don’t mind a bit of shade, most grow and flower best with lots of sunshine. If your summers are scorching, types like autumn sage might appreciate a little afternoon shade. Before choosing where to plant your salvia, take a peek at how much light it prefers.
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Is salvia deer resistant?
Many salvia types are not high on a deer’s menu. Still, when food is hard to find, a hungry deer might nibble on just about any plant, so don’t take “deer resistant” as a promise carved in stone.
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Does salvia spread?
Some salvias grow in tidy clumps, while others spread or produce new plants from seed. Check the plant label to see how wide yours will grow, and give it a little elbow room!
Sources
- University of Florida Extension — Bird-Friendly Plants
- NC State Extension — Salvia Plant Toolbox
- University of Minnesota Extension — Salvia Plant Profile
More Like This
what types of Salvia are best for my growing zone?
Ilive inZone 11 hot summer 105 midday. Will Salvia survive
how do i deadhead salvia
Hi Mary,
While deadheading salvia is not necessary for its survival, it can promote better blooming, encourage new blooms, and help in your plant's overall vigor when done correctly.
The ideal time to start deadheading your salvia is after the initial flowering period when the blooms start to fade. Using a pair of sharp pruning shears, remove the faded flowers just above the highest set of leaves or side shoots. Multiple salvia blooms will grow from a central stalk so you will likely see more blooms grow, and that is why you only want to deadhead those with dead or fading flowers and blooms. You may have to deadhead multiple times over the course of the season, but you will be rewarded for your efforts with many beautiful blooms.
Once your blooms are done for the season you have a decision to make about the last set of spent flowers: You can either deadhead to prevent seeds or let them be to encourage reseeding.
Hope this helps!
I ordered may night salvia and didnt realize i was just getting the roots. will they grow quickly to have flowers producing this season? do you just plant the root in the ground?
We raise rabbits/sheep and chickens on out homestead and the rabbits absolutely love sage as a treat, not a repellent at all
My purple salvia has been neglected for 10 years. The stems are 1+inch thick and over 5’ tall leaning over 5’ from the base. Can I cut it back and start over?
Charley-
How do I get my Salvia to stand up straight. They were straight up last week and this week they are falling to the sides.
There are a number of reasons that salvias will flop over. When salvia plants get too much water, are over-fertilized, or do not get enough sun it can cause blooms to fall to the ground.
As the summer progresses, humid conditions can also cause this issue. It can also happen after flowering or if blooms become too heavy.
You can consider cutting it back to the bottom of the plant, just above ground level. Plants will regrow a fresh set of leaves and the next round of blooms.
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