How to Plant and Grow Perennial Salvia

Perennial salvia, a member of the mint family, is a bewitching herbaceous plant that blooms for an extended period of time in a wide spectrum of colors. There are nearly 1,000 species of salvia worldwide, including annual, biennial, and perennial varieties with diverse growth habits varying from short, low-growing plants to tall, sprawling shrub-like plants. Most are easy to grow, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant, making them an excellent choice for garden beds and borders. Salvias are also a great nectar source, so if you plant them, expect pollinators (especially hummingbirds) to pay your garden a visit.

Salvias are known to put on a spectacular show with hundreds of blooms at a time. Generally, the hardiest salvia species tend to have one major bloom session, with the potential for a second flush if blooms are cut back. More tender perennial salvias may have a spread-out bloom period (and bloom more sparsely overall). Some species have rather showy bracts (modified leaves) that can persist after the blooms have finished, further adding to the floral display.

Where to Plant Perennial Salvia

Salvias grow best in spots with ample sunlight and well-draining soil. They work beautifully in mixed perennial beds and borders and can serve as pretty foundation plantings under windows or along the edge of a house or other structure. They are perfect for cottage gardens but adaptable to many conditions and suitable for coastal gardens, woodland gardens, wildflower meadows, and raised beds.

When planting your salvias, allow plenty of room for the plants to grow. Many varieties become large and start to sprawl.

How and When to Plant Perennial Salvia

In most hardiness zones, salvia seeds can be sown directly in the ground in early to midspring (after the danger of frost has passed). Choose a site with full sun and loosen the soil about a foot deep to accommodate the plant's eventual root system. Spread the seeds over the top of the soil and cover them just slightly, as the seeds need light to germinate. Water until the soil is evenly moist.

Salvia plants can be placed in the ground in spring or fall in most zones. To plant a seedling or nursery-grown plant, dig a hole twice the diameter but at approximately the same depth as the plant's container. If you are planting more than one salvia, space them 1 to 3 feet apart (depending on the variety's growth habits). Once they are planted, water thoroughly until the soil is evenly moist.

Perennial Salvia Care Tips

Salvias are summer-garden survivors and can tolerate harsh conditions (like heat and drought) but will not tolerate wet feet. Make sure you plant your salvia in well-drained soil.

Light

Salvias grow best in full sun and will put on their best floral show with at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. Anything less than full sun causes the plant to stretch and become floppy.

Soil and Water

Salvias prefer slightly acidic (5.5 to 6.5 pH) well-draining soil. Once perennial salvias are established, they can withstand long periods of drought. In fact, supplemental watering is typically only necessary on hot summer days after long periods without rain.

Temperature and Humidity

Temperature requirements will vary slightly among different species, but most perennial salvias are happy in hot summer weather and hardy to -10 or -20 degrees Fahrenheit. They also prefer a dry climate and could develop root rot and powdery mildew issues in humid conditions—especially if not given ample air circulation.

Fertilizer

Most salvias do not require fertilizer to thrive, but a light, slow-release fertilizer may encourage more lush growth and blooms. Avoid using granular fertilizers near the foliage or crown, as it could injure the plant.

Pruning

Left alone, most perennial salvias will bloom once or twice each growing season. If you would like your plant to bloom continuously throughout the season, deadhead the spent blooms. You can also cut away woody stems if they develop.

After the initial bloom period (and if the plant is becoming too large), you can cut it back by about half to encourage a smaller, more compact plant and a second round of blooms. As cold weather approaches, many varieties fare better if cut to the ground to overwinter.

Pests and Problems

Perennial salvia is a resilient plant, but it is not without issues when it comes to pests and diseases. Powdery mildew and root rot are common, especially in humid climates. Botrytis can also occur if plants are placed too close together. To avoid these issues, allow the soil to dry out between waterings and make sure all your salvia plants have ample air circulation.

While deer and rabbits tend to avoid salvia, aphids, Japanese beetles, and caterpillars are known to visit. Try to catch them early and spray them off with a garden hose or—with caterpillars—remove them by hand.

Potting and Repotting

Salvia is a great thriller for containers kept on sunny patios or porches. Choose a pot with excellent drainage at least 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Depending on the growth habit of your chosen salvia, a container that size should be sufficient for 1 to 2 years. Use a basic potting soil mixed 50/50 with compost (ideally with an end pH between 5.5 and 6.5). Water your salvia only when the topsoil feels dry, if your area lacks rainfall, or if the weather is particularly hot.

When it is time to repot your salvia, prepare a larger pot with fresh soil and tamp it down, leaving a hole approximately the same size as the plant’s previous pot (you can use the old pot as a mold). Gently ease the plant from its old pot and place it in the hole of the new pot. Avoid disturbing the root system as much as possible, as that can lead to transplant shock. Water your plants thoroughly after transplanting, and keep them sheltered from the wind and harsh sun for a few days as they acclimate to the new container.

How to Propagate Perennial Salvia

Salvia can easily be grown from seed, but if you have a hybrid, you may need to propagate from cuttings to create a similar plant. When new growth is emerging in early spring, cut a stem about 4 to 8 inches long just below a node where leaves sprout from the stem. Remove any leaves from the bottom few inches of the stem and place the cutting in a glass of water (about 2 inches deep). Keep the cutting in an area with dappled or filtered light and add water as needed until it begins to grow roots. Once the roots are at least 3/4 inch long, you can transplant the cutting to a container or the ground.

Perennial salvias can also be dug up and divided to make more plants. This is best done in early spring, right when plants emerge—just be careful not to damage tender new growth.

Types of Perennial Salvia

'Black and Blue' Sage

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' blooms in late summer and fall with very deep blue flowers, with almost black calyces. The flowers are carried in spikes on shrubby stems that typically grow 3 to 5 feet tall but can grow even taller in the right conditions. It is hardy in Zones 7-10, though it's often treated as an annual.

Clary Sage

Salvia sclarea is a short-lived perennial or biennial grown for its colorful pink, purple, white, or lilac bracts. Plants readily self-seed, so once you plant them, you may find them popping up throughout the garden. They grow up to 2 feet tall and may need staking or pinching to prevent them from falling over. Clary sage is hardy in Zones 4-9.

Giant Purple Sage

Salvia pachyphylla is exceedingly tough and bears spikes of purple flowers throughout the summer. It can reach 4 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 5-9.

'Golden Delicious' Pineapple Sage

Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious' is a more compact version of pineapple sage (which often grows 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide) with yellow-green foliage. This shrub-like perennial is hardy in Zones 8-11 and grows well as an annual in colder climates. These plants grow 3-4 feet tall and bear spikes with brilliant red blooms beginning in late summer.

'Hot Lips' Sage

Flowering most prolifically in spring and fall, salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' features bicolor blooms of white and red on compact shrubby plants. It is hardy in Zones 8-11.

Hummingbird Sage

Salvia spathacea, a hummingbird favorite, is aptly named. The magenta flowers of this sage attract hundreds of tiny birds over the course of a season. Plants grow about 1 foot tall and are hardy in Zones 8-10.

'May Night' Hybrid Sage

Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night' carries dense spikes of large, two-lipped, deep indigo blue flowers on 1-1/2- to 2-foot stems. You will need to propagate this plant by division as this is a sterile hybrid. May night sage is hardy in Zones 5-9.

'Point Sal Spreader' Salvia

Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal Spreader', also known as purple sage, grows 2 feet tall and spreads to 10 feet or so wide. Great for slopes, it is very drought-tolerant and is hardy in Zones 8-10.

Roseleaf Sage

Salvia involucrata is a shrubby Mexican native that develops purple-red flowers from midsummer to fall. It grows 5 feet tall and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Roseleaf sage is hardy in Zones 7-11.

Santa Rosa Island Sage

Salvia brandegeei is an exceptionally drought-tolerant and long-lived sage. This plant has a shrublike form and grows 4-6 feet tall. It has dark green leaves and purple flowers. It is hardy in Zones 8-10.

Perennial Salvia Companion Plants

Golden Marguerite

Golden marguerite, also known as golden chamomile, is a vigorous perennial that produces a cloud of yellow daisies on feathery gray-green foliage. Like perennial salvia, it is a sun-loving plant that prefers about 6 hours of exposure a day. Golden marguerite plants spread quickly, so it is recommended that you divide them every two years or so. After their first flush of bloom, they can get rangy looking, so cut them back by about half to keep them neat and to encourage further bloom.

Shasta Daisy

Once established, Shasta daisies are easy to care for and can be grown in full sun (like perennial salvia) or partial shade. Their sturdy stems and long vase life make them unbeatable for cutting. Shasta daisies also thrive in well-drained, not overly rich soil, but taller cultivars may need staking.

Daylily

Daylilies are so easy to grow you'll often find them in ditches and fields, and as escapees from gardens. And yet they look so delicate, producing glorious trumpet-shaped blooms (some fragrant) in myriad colors. In fact, there are some 50,000 named hybrid daylily cultivars in a range of flower sizes (the minis are very popular), forms, and plant heights. The flowers are borne on leafless stems and although each bloom lasts but a single day, superior cultivars carry numerous buds on each scape so bloom time is long, especially if you deadhead daily. Depending on the cultivar, the strappy foliage of the daylily may be evergreen or deciduous.

Aster

Fittingly, asters are named after the Latin word for "star," and their flowers are indeed the superstars of the fall garden, and not all asters are fall bloomers. Alpine asters bloom in the spring, and you can extend your aster season by growing summer bloomers (like Aster x frikartii), as well. Some types of this perennial can grow as tall as 6 feet with flowers in white and pink but also, perhaps most strikingly, rich purples and showy lavenders. Some cultivars are more naturally compact.

Garden Plans for Perennial Salvia

Foolproof Foundation Garden Plan

Dress up the front of your home with this interesting combination of plants.

Summer-Blooming Front-Yard Cottage Garden Plan

Create charm and curb appeal in your front yard with this lush, beautiful cottage garden plan.

Front Walk Garden Plan

This eclectic mix of easy-care flowers is the perfect way to make walking to your front door a pleasant journey.