Garden Planner Growing Information for Salvia

Salvia

Crop Rotation Group

Miscellaneous

Salvia, also known as Scarlet Sage

Soil

Any sunny site with good drainage.

Position

Full sun to partial afternoon shade.

Frost tolerant

None. Salvia cannot tolerate cold temperatures.

Feeding

Mix a light application of a balanced organic fertiliser into the soil prior to planting.

Companions

Mixes well with upright flowers or herbs.

Spacing

Single Plants: 30cm (11") each way (minimum)
Rows: 30cm (11") with 30cm (11") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Salvia needs warm soil to grow well, so wait until the last frost has passed to set out plants. Start seeds indoors in individual containers or set out purchased plants. Space plants 12 inches (30 cm) apart in all directions.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Pinching off the first bloom will encourage plants to grow into lush bushes bearing numerous flower spikes.

Harvesting

Gather stems to use in cut arrangements. Snip off old flowers every few weeks to keep plants in bloom all summer.

Troubleshooting

Salvia has few problems with pests or diseases. Newer named varieties are vigorous and very heavy blooming.