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Herbaceous Perennial

Salvia przewalskii

red sage

A tuberous-rooted perennial to 60cm tall, with triangular leaves, white-hairy beneath, and branched stems bearing 2-lipped, purple to reddish flowers 3-4cm long, from early summer to early autumn

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Tibet to C China

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in an open sunny situation in well-drained soil; mulch to help tubers overwinter or lift and store as for dahlia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or early summer and by semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Wildlife gardens
Wall side borders
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back flower spikes after they have faded

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails, capsid bug, rosemary beetle and leafhoppers

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots

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