Crop Rotation Group
Miscellaneous
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Soil
Fertile, well-drained soil.
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Position
Full sun to partial shade.
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Frost tolerant
None. Salvias need warm temperatures at all times.
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Feeding
Mix a standard application of a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil prior to planting. In midsummer, drench plants with a liquid plant food to stimulate new growth. In containers, feed salvias every two weeks and do not allow them to dry out completely.
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Companions
In warm climates, salvias often are used in open shade, where they work well with nicotiana and sprawling petunias. In containers, a single salvia can serve as the upright element, surrounded by mound-forming herbs or trailing flowers.
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Spacing
Single Plants: 11" (30cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 11" (30cm) with 11" (30cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Sow salvia seeds indoors in moist seed starting mix, and provide warm conditions and very bright light. Most gardeners buy salvia seedlings, which are widely available as bedding plants.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Salvias love warmth but not drought. Provide plenty of water, and be generous with liquid plant food. Red is the most common color, but varieties are available in numerous colors and bicolors. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds.
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Harvesting
Clip off old salvia branches after the flowers fade to insure steady production of new flowering spikes. Salvias make good short-lived cut flowers for garden bouquets.
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Troubleshooting
Whiteflies can be a problem, and are best managed with two or three sprays of insecticidal soap, seven to ten days apart.
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