When long - flower tender salvias are packaged in 4 - in . pots and run along up along the nursery benches at the nursery in spring , it ’s difficult to conceive that their fistful of thickset blossom spikes daintily dancing above tidy foliation could make an impact on the garden . But these industrial plant get better all time of year and are problem - solvers for tricky situations : They tolerate clay soils and periods of drought , handle gamey heating , do n’t listen humidity , and cervid do n’t eat them . If you ’re search for low maintenance and retentive blooming , these plants meet the pecker .
Even better , pollinator love them — peculiarly hummingbird . Salvia ’s tubular heyday are make to fit a hummingbird ’s snout , dusting their foreheads with pollen as they salute . In return , hummingbirds get a sense of taste of the sucrose - fertile nectar , which not all plant supplying . So lease ’s explore the salvias that rule late - season gardens , whether they flower from summer to frost , or , like the red pineapple salvia pictured above , await until shorter daytime hour to reveal their resistless flush .
You Might Also Like:11 Deer- and Rabbit - Resistant Plants8 Late - Season FlowersColorful Fall Garden Bed Plan10 flora to pull in Hummingbirds to Your Garden
Growing long blooming salvia
Good tidings : Salvias are not very finical about their growing conditions and can grow in dense corpse , hot and humid atmospheric condition and even handle drouth conditions . Many — but not all — types of sage are native to the Southwestern United States and Central America , a region characterized by elusive growing conditions .
Sun is best when you require maximum blooms from your salvia . Though some can tolerate a fiddling shade , too much shade along with soil that ’s too plenteous might make their stem flop . And , even though salvias tolerate clay dirt just fine , grease that have got too much moisture makes it harder for marginally hardy salvias to exist the winter . rather , found them in well - drained , thin soil and mulch the works in decline for extra auspices . Even though salvias tolerate some drought , they flower well with even moisture and necessitate a small lachrymation to get through long wry magical spell .
Deadheading salvia
It ’s not necessary to deadhead salvias but doing so will encourage additional bloom to take off more quickly . you could pinch or snip stem back to the leaf node for most coinage , or cut halt back to the foundation of the plant for Mexican bush sage ( Salvia leucantha ) , to keep a kempt look .
Take cuttings in fall
If they ’re hardy for you , divide sage every 3 to 5 years to keep plants vigorous . For salvias that are n’t stalwart in your area , take cuttings in fall with these simple steps :
pineapple plant sage ( Salvia elegans )
Pineapple sage ’s spikes of bright crimson heyday are sure to catch your eye , as well as the care of belated - time of year hummingbird and butterfly . lustrous , showy foliation bedaze all season and release a unused ananas olfactory property when crushed .
TypeTender perennialBloomsRed tubular flowers in previous summertime to fallLightFull sun to part shadeSoilWell - drainedSize3 to 4 ft . tall , 2 to 3 foot . wideHardinessCold audacious in USDA zones 8 to 10
Mexican bush sage ( Salvia leucantha )
A popular salvia , it flower copiously , often with white blossom on royal calyx . Deadhead throughout the heyday menstruation if pass stems await mussy and start to weigh down the residue of the plant .
BloomsLong , arching racemes of lily-white efflorescence held by imperial calyxes in later summertime to frostLightFull Lord’s Day to part shadeSoilWell - drainedSize24 to 40 in . tall , 28 to 36 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10
Skyscraper salvia ( Salviahybrid )
This new multifariousness occur in rare colour of orange , light pink and dark purpleness and appear sensational all on its own in a container . Shown here is Skyscraper ™ Orange .
BloomsOrange , pink or dreary purple blossom emerge from matching calyx summer into fallLightFull Dominicus to part shadeSoilWell - drainedSize14 to 28 in . tall , 10 to 16 in . wideHardinessCold - brave in USDA zones 7 to 10
Mealycup salvia ( Salvia farinacea )
Stems wage hike above dense foliage and bloom buds often have a slightly dusty ashen flavor .
BloomsPurple , blue or white capitulum continually bloom in summertime to frostLightFull sun to part shadeSoilWell - drainedSize12 to 36 in . tall , 9 to 16 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11
Anise - perfumed salvia ( Salvia guaranitica )
This is an absolute favorite of hummingbird ! The crude contrast of the dark calyx and lustrous green foliage creates undeniable interest .
BloomsPurple and blue flower emerge from dark drear and sinister calyxes in summertime to fallLightFull Dominicus to part shadeSoilWell - drainedSize2 to 5 foot . tall and wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zone 7 to 11
Scarlet salvia ( Salvia splendens )
A small plant with large flowers , this is a democratic bedding and container plant and can be deadheaded for neatness and to increase prime .
BloomsRed , creamy ashen , pink , burgundy , or purple flowers in summer to fallLightFull sunSoilWell - drainedSize10 to 30 in . tall , 8 to 18 in . wideHardinessCold - hardy in USDA zone 10 to 11
