Shrubby Sages: Planting and Care Tips

Botany and description

Some species of sage form true small bushes. This is the case with bushy sages, such as grahamii or Graham’s sage, guarani sage, greigii, or even microphylla or small-leaved sage. Others, more tender and taller, are also worth discovering, such as Salvia guaranitica, leucantha, and involucrata.

These are woody perennial plants from the Lamiaceae or labiate family, aromatic and ornamental, much like thyme, rosemary, nepeta, and agastache, with which they share typical family characteristics: small two-lipped flowers, square stems, and opposite leaves.

They originate from South America, the Mexican mountains, and southern Arizona. These ramified perennials have a bushy and spreading habit, as wide as they are tall. With spectacular growth, they can form a true small bush from a suckering stump in just one season, reaching 0.40 to 2 m in all directions for the tallest. There are also compact varieties not exceeding 50 cm in all directions, particularly in the Salvia microphylla group.

Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’

On square-section stems that become woody with age, the semi-evergreen to evergreen foliage (in mild climates) unfolds. They sometimes take on purplish or black hues, as in Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’. These semi-woody stems bear petiolate, ovate, or lanceolate leaves, in a beautiful mint green to bright green, sometimes variegated with white-cream. Hairy, smooth, or slightly wrinkled, they measure 2 to 10 cm long and are crenate on the margins. The foliage of bushy sages, like that of sages, is highly aromatic. When crushed, the leaves, rich in essential oils and slightly sticky, release their mentholated, aniseed, or lemony notes, depending on the variety. Their fragrance intensifies in warm, dry weather. They have no culinary value, unlike the edible common or clary sages.

Bushy sages offer almost uninterrupted flowering from spring to autumn. It occurs in summer, earlier or later depending on the climate, and continues until the first frosts. Some, like Salvia microphylla grahamii, flower as early as April, then even more generously in September. The bilabiate flowers emerge from the foliage, grouped in spikes of 20 to 30 cm. Tubular, they are composed of five petals fused into a tube that opens into two lips, with the lower lip of the corolla forming a wide labellum. They measure 2 to 4 cm long. These small inflorescences are ephemeral, lasting barely a day, but are immediately replaced and renewed continuously.

The colour palette is very diverse, offering soft and luminous tones or, conversely, vividly coloured, sometimes very deep hues. The flowers bloom in shades of white, red, and purple, through all shades of pink, and even an unprecedented royal blue in ‘Blue Note‘ and ‘Victoria Blue Vivisal’, for example. Meanwhile, the striking ‘Hot Lips’, ‘Delice Gold and Wine’, or ‘Little Kiss’ display bicoloured flowers.

This nectariferous and melliferous flowering, renewing without interruption, is highly visited by pollinating insects, bees, and butterflies, which delight in its nectar.

Pink, red, blue, white… sages display soft or vivid, very varied tones

Main species and varieties

Most Popular

Our Favourites

Other Interesting Species

Salvia microphylla Blue Note

A prize-winning shrubby sage, awarded at Saint Jean de Beauregard in 2010 for its stunning flowering in an intense royal blue hue!

• Flowering time June to December
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Salvia microphylla grahamii Hot Lips

A remarkable variety distinguished by its flowering that changes colour depending on the ambient temperature. It can withstand frosts of around -10/-12°C in very well-drained, even dry soil.

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 90 cm

See the product sheet

Salvia microphylla Pink Lips

This is a stunning bicoloured version with pink and white flowers! A unique presence, whether in a flowerbed or a large pot on the terrace.

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 90 cm

See the product sheet

Salvia jamensis Reve Rouge

This shrubby sage offers a flowering of pure, deep red—an unprecedented colour for these plants. We love its almost uninterrupted flowering from spring until the first frosts.

• Flowering time June to December
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Salvia Victoria Blue

This brand-new shrubby sage forms an upright bush, a rare quality among blue varieties.

• Flowering time June to October
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Salvia guaranitica Black and Blue - Shrubby Sage

A giant species with flowers of an intense, enigmatic deep blue-violet, supported by black bracts well into the season. A beautiful plant for the back of flowerbeds!

• Flowering time September to November
• Height at maturity 1,75 m

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Salvia greggii Alba

A lovely white sage! This variety proves quite hardy and very resistant to summer drought.

• Flowering time June to November
• Height at maturity 50 cm

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Salvia microphylla Royal Bumble

A very vibrant variety! It stands out for its small flowers in a magnificent dark velvety red.

• Flowering time June to December
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Salvia greggii Icing Sugar

A rather compact variety that charms mainly with its bicoloured flowering.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Salvia jamensis Violette de Loire

A very recent French hybrid appreciated for its flowering in an intense blue-violet shade. It adapts wonderfully to pot cultivation.

• Flowering time June to December
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Salvia microphylla Papajan

A new shrubby sage with salmon-pink flowers, blooming from July until the first frosts! Robust but moderately hardy, it will need protection in colder regions.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 70 cm

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to Plant Bushy Sage?

Native to subtropical and tropical coniferous forests in South America, in the wild, the Bushy Sage is a plant of mild climates; in France, it thrives easily in oceanic or Mediterranean climates. Its hardiness varies greatly. Some hybrid bushy sages, such as Salvia (x) jamensis, can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C in perfectly drained soil, while others are far less hardy, especially in damp and cold climates. However, most, like Salvia microphylla grahamii, tolerate sufficiently low temperatures, around -12°C, to remain outdoors year-round.

In colder regions, it can be grown in a large pot and moved to a sheltered spot during winter to protect it from severe frosts. In milder climates, it thrives in sheltered spots, in full sun or partial shade. In northern France, it is advisable to plant it in a very sunny location, such as against a south-facing wall. It prefers dry soils and sunny areas. Full sun exposure will intensify the fragrance of its foliage. In the south of the country, it tolerates light shade. It is also preferable to protect it in winter with horticultural fleece and a thick mulch around the stump.

Most varieties appreciate well-draining and rather dry soils: light, ordinary, porous, even chalky soil will suit it perfectly. It requires very well-drained soil, as winter moisture can be fatal. It adapts to stony or even poor soils. However, moderately fertile soil will ensure abundant flowering.

With its natural appearance, it is perfect for dry gardens, coastal areas, and Mediterranean gardens. It adds colour and fragrance to gardens, balconies, or terraces. It adapts to many situations, and depending on its mature size, it can brighten up the back of borders, large rockeries, or containers, as it thrives in pots. Smaller varieties are also useful for filling gaps in borders or creating low, flowering hedges.

Savlia greggii ‘Alba’ in a dry garden (© Cultivar 403)

When to Plant Bushy Sage?

Plant bushy sage after the spring frosts in cold climates, or in September-October in warm climates.

How to Plant It?

In the Ground

It requires very well-draining soil, as it cannot survive in heavy, waterlogged soils, especially in winter. If your soil is clayey, improve drainage by mixing in pumice, coarse sand, or gravel, and plant on a mound to allow water to drain away. One or two plants per square metre is sufficient, especially for larger sages.

• Dig a hole 3 to 4 times wider than the root ball
• Spread a layer of drainage material at the bottom of the hole
• Place the root ball in the centre of the hole, with the collar level with the soil
• You can add a base fertiliser (roasted horn or dehydrated blood)
• Fill in and lightly firm the soil
• Water thoroughly

In Pots

For regions that are too cold, container cultivation is recommended. The substrate must be very free-draining.

• In a container with drainage holes, at least 30 cm in diameter (larger for taller sages), spread a good layer of drainage material (gravel, pumice, or clay pebbles)
• Plant the root ball in a sandy, well-draining mix of garden soil, coarse sand, and good potting compost
• Water
• Place in a sunny, sheltered spot

→ To learn all about growing bushy sage in pots, read Marion’s advice!

Maintenance, Pruning, and Care for Shrub Sage

In the Ground

The shrubby sage proves to be drought-resistant during summer. While it can withstand long, dry summers and requires no watering once well-established, a few waterings will help maintain lush green foliage and abundant flowering. For the first two summers, water regularly but sparingly. After that, it will thrive on rainwater alone, requiring watering only during prolonged dry spells.

In spring, you can spread well-rotted compost around the stump, especially if your soil is poor, and lightly rake it into the soil.

In colder regions, apply a thick layer of mulch at the base to protect it from cold and excessive rain (straw or dry leaves).

→ Follow our advice for protecting your plants from the cold.

In Pots

The substrate dries out faster than in the ground, so it should remain moist in summer to ensure continuous and abundant flowering. Your shrubby sage will need more regular watering, but avoid overwatering: it’s better to water less than too much.

In colder regions, move the pot to a frost-free location. During winter, significantly reduce watering to minimise the risk of fungal diseases, to which it can be susceptible due to excess moisture. Indoors, it may be attacked by scale insects.

Bring the pot back outside as soon as the weather warms up.

When and How to Prune Shrubby Sages?

Shrubby sages tolerate severe pruning well. In late winter, around late March to early April, use shears to cut back the clump by half to maintain a balanced habit and encourage lower buds. We also recommend regularly removing spent flowers to promote new blooms.

Salvia jamensis ‘Raspberry Royale’

Multiplication

How to Take Cuttings from Shrubby Sage?

You can propagate shrubby sage by taking semi-hardwood cuttings in summer.

• From June to August, using pruning shears, take lignified stems without flowers, measuring between 5 to 10 cm, just below a node.
• Remove the lower leaves.
• Plant the cuttings in sowing and potting compost.
• Place them in a humid environment in a bright location, but out of direct sunlight.
• Keep the compost consistently moist, but not waterlogged, until rooting occurs, which takes 2-3 months.
• Protect the cuttings from frost in winter by storing them in a bright, unheated room.
• Plant your young plants in the ground the following spring.

→ Learn all about the technique of taking cuttings from shrubby sage in our tutorial!

Associate

Melliferous and flowering for long months, the bushy sages naturally find their place in country gardens, in perennial and bush beds of a cottage garden, in dry gardens, by the seaside, and also in Mediterranean gardens, where they thrive in the warm, sunny climate.

In a large rockery, pair low-growing varieties of bushy sages with lavenders, ground-cover roses, rosemary, rockery campanulas, and cistus. In beds or mixed borders in the “cottage garden” style, they will mingle with gauras, asters, roses, phlox, and other colourful flowerings like Nepetas, Leucanthemum, Echinaceas, Delphiniums, Cosmos, Dahlias, alliums…

Salvia jamensis ‘Ribambelle’, lavender, cistus, and rosemary

In a natural composition, medium-sized bushy sages will add a splash of colour among grasses like Stipa tenuifolia, or Miscanthus sinensis, and the airy flowerings of yarrows or purpletop vervain.

Tall bushy sages are ideal candidates for flowering at the back of beds, alongside tall sedums (Sedum ‘Matrona’), shrubby cinquefoils, and tall, bushy autumn asters (Aster turbinellus, Aster Laevis, Kalimeris mongolica), which will accompany them right up to winter’s doorstep.

Use the flamboyant flowering of certain sages to create colourful contrasts. For example, you could plant red bushy sages (‘Flammenn’, ‘Royal Bumble’) right next to a Cape leadwort with its sky-blue flowering: the combination of the two hues is striking! The silvery foliage of artemisias or dusty millers will soften the overall effect with their grey, downy leaves.