Hummingbird sage

Sun

Partial shade; tolerates full sun near the coast if the soil does not dry out completely. Give it afternoon shade in hot inland gardens.

Water

Low once established in mild climates. Water occasionally during prolonged dry weather to keep the foliage attractive; avoid constantly wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including loam and clay that does not remain waterlogged. Tolerates a range of soil pH.

Height

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m), including flower stems

Spread

3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m), spreading farther over time by rhizomes

Flowers

Spring to early summer; deep rose-pink to magenta flowers in spaced whorls along upright stems.

Foliage

Evergreen. Broad, wrinkled, softly hairy green leaves with a strong fruity scent when rubbed.

Growth

Moderate; faster with moisture and room to spread.

Care needed

Low

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

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

   1.4 ft (0.42 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.8 ft (0.55 m)

4. After 3 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

About 2 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

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Water deeply during the first growing season, letting the soil partly dry between waterings.
• Once established, water occasionally in summer if you want to retain a leafy groundcover.
• Keep mulch away from the crowns and avoid sites that stay wet through winter.
• Skip routine feeding; rich soil and heavy feeding are unnecessary.
• Lift rooted shoots at the edges when the patch exceeds its allotted space.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems back to the leafy base after flowering. In late winter or early spring, remove frost-damaged and dead foliage without cutting away healthy new growth.

Late winter

Remove dead leaves and frost-damaged stems as new growth begins.

Spring

Plant after severe frosts have passed in colder areas; water new plants thoroughly.

Late spring

Enjoy flowering and leave some flower stems if you want to collect seed.

Early summer

Cut finished flower stems to the base unless saving seed.

Summer

Water occasionally during extended drought to prevent substantial leaf loss.

Autumn

Plant or divide in mild climates once rain returns; remove unwanted rooted runners.

• Plant in broad patches beneath open-canopied trees for a leafy, flowering groundcover.
• Use along a partly shaded path where brushing the leaves releases their scent.
• Combine with alum roots and California fescue for contrasting leaf shapes in a dry woodland border.
• Place beneath taller native shrubs to fill bare ground and provide spring nectar.

Garden styles it suits: California native, Woodland, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, Sensory garden and Mediterranean.

Plant it with: Coast live oak, Western redbud, Island alum root, California fescue and Evergreen currant.

Wildlife: The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds where these birds occur naturally, especially in its native western North American range. Bees also visit the flowers.

• Root and crown rot in waterlogged soil: improve drainage, keep crowns clear of mulch and reduce watering.
• Slugs and snails on young growth: remove hiding places, hand-pick or use an iron-phosphate bait according to its label.
• Powdery mildew in crowded, poorly ventilated growth: thin the patch and avoid wetting the foliage when watering.
• Summer leaf loss during prolonged drought: give occasional deep watering, or accept seasonal dormancy and wait for cooler, wetter weather.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as poisonous; do not treat this ornamental sage as a substitute for culinary sage.

• Scarlet sage (Salvia splendens)

  Usually has brighter scarlet flowers in dense terminal spikes, smoother leaves and a compact bedding-plant habit rather than a spreading rhizomatous groundcover.

• Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans)

  Forms a taller, upright, woody-based plant with narrower leaves and slender red flowers, usually appearing later in the growing season.

The common name refers to its hummingbird visitors, while spathacea refers to the conspicuous, spathe-like bracts surrounding the flower clusters.

Propagation. Divide rooted rhizomes in autumn in mild climates or in spring in colder areas. Sow seed in autumn or spring; seedlings may take longer than divisions to form a substantial patch.

Accepted botanical name

Salvia spathacea

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

California.

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