edenhana

Salvia

Ornamental salvia (ornamental sage species such as Salvia nemorosa and Salvia greggii) rather than the culinary sage already grown for the kitchen - a genuinely easy, long-flowering, drought-tolerant plant once established, and one of the best bee and butterfly plants available. Plant in full sun in spring, or in autumn in the warmest northern gardens, and water in well while it settles; after that, most salvias need little watering at all. Space plants a generous 45cm apart, since powdery mildew takes hold fastest in crowded, poorly-ventilated plantings.

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Sun
full sun
Water
low
Spacing
45cm
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Mature height
60cm
Flowering season
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov, Dec
Attracts wildlife
Bees, Butterflies
Common diseases
Powdery mildew

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: March-April and September-November. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: September-November. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: October-November.

Growing stages

  1. PlantingSpring, or autumn in frost-free areas

    • Choose a full-sun position with free-draining soil
    • Water in well at planting to settle the soil, then taper off
    • Space plants a generous 45cm apart to keep airflow good as they bulk up

  2. Establishment

    • Keep soil lightly moist while roots establish over the first few weeks
    • Avoid overhead watering; wetting the leaves and crowding plants together both encourage powdery mildew

  3. FloweringSummer into autumn

    • Once established, most salvias are drought-tolerant and need little extra water
    • Deadhead and trim lightly through the season to keep flowers coming
    • Bees and butterflies work the flowers constantly, so avoid spraying open blooms

  4. Maintenance

    • Cut back hard in late winter or early spring to keep growth compact and flowering well
    • Watch for powdery mildew, a grey-white dusting on leaves, in humid or crowded conditions

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