Cedar sage

Sun

Partial shade or bright, dappled shade; morning sun is suitable, but avoid strong afternoon sun in hot climates.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate dry shade but flower better with occasional deep watering.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including stony limestone soils; tolerates neutral to alkaline conditions. Avoid heavy, persistently wet ground.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Scarlet-red tubular flowers in spring and early summer, sometimes repeating in autumn after rain.

Foliage

Soft, hairy green leaves with rounded to heart-shaped outlines and scalloped edges. Foliage may persist in mild winters but dies back in colder weather.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.3 ft (0.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant in partial shade with the crown at soil level.
• Water deeply during establishment, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings.
• Water established plants during extended drought rather than keeping the soil constantly moist.
• Leave a light covering of leaf litter around plants, but keep wet mulch away from the crowns.
• Avoid routine feeding; use a light compost dressing only where growth is poor.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems after the main flush to encourage further flowering, leaving some if you want seedlings. In late winter or early spring, cut dead stems back to healthy basal growth.

Late winter

Remove dead stems and check that leaf litter is not smothering the crowns.

Spring

Plant after severe frosts have passed and water new plants thoroughly.

Late spring

Remove faded flower stems, or leave a few to set seed.

Summer

Check soil during prolonged drought and water deeply if plants remain wilted in the morning.

Autumn

Collect ripe seed from dry flower heads and move unwanted seedlings while conditions are mild.

Winter

Keep drainage clear and avoid watering dormant plants unless the soil is unusually dry.

• Plant in loose groups beneath open-canopied trees for red flowers in dappled shade.
• Use along shaded paths where the low foliage and upright flowers can be seen closely.
• Tuck into well-drained limestone pockets in a shaded rock garden.
• Combine with sedges, columbines and coral bells for contrasting leaf shapes in a woodland border.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, Texas Hill Country, Low-maintenance and Cottage garden.

Plant it with: Texas sedge, Texas columbine, Coral bells and Golden groundsel.

Wildlife: The tubular red flowers attract hummingbirds within their range, as well as butterflies and some bees. Deer often leave the aromatic foliage alone, but browsing is still possible.

• Crown or root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, keep mulch off the crown and reduce watering.
• Leaf scorch and persistent wilting in strong sun: move to afternoon shade and water deeply during drought.
• Slugs and snails on young growth: remove hiding places, hand-pick pests or use an approved iron-phosphate bait as directed.
• Unwanted seedlings: remove flower stems before seed ripens or pull seedlings while small.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited, and no particular toxic part is established; treat it as an ornamental rather than a culinary sage.

• Tropical sage (Salvia coccinea)

  Usually taller and more upright, with more pointed, triangular leaves and longer, more open flower spikes. Cedar sage has a lower habit and broader, rounder, scalloped leaves.

• Autumn sage (Salvia greggii)

  Forms a woody shrub with small, narrow to oval leaves. Cedar sage is herbaceous, with larger, soft, hairy leaves and distinctly scalloped edges.

The common name refers to its habitat beneath junipers locally called cedars, while roemeriana honours the German geologist Ferdinand Roemer.

Propagation. Grow from seed sown in a freely draining seed mix, or take softwood cuttings in spring or early summer. It may self-seed where conditions suit it; transplant small seedlings with their roots intact.

Accepted botanical name

Salvia roemeriana

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Mexico Northeast and Texas.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.