How to propagate shrubby sage?

Bushy sages enchant garden or terrace with their long flowering, lasting from spring through autumn. Flowers also add a splash of colour, from deep mauve to pure white, via soft pink, red and salmon‑orange depending on variety. Some cultivars even display charming bicoloured flowering. Easy to grow, bushy sage is also easy to propagate by cuttings to renew an old specimen or to extend a border.

Discover when and how to propagate bushy sage easily, thanks to our illustrated tutorial!

Salvia microphylla 'Little Kiss'

When to take cuttings of bushy sage?

Propagation by cuttings of bushy sages is done from June to August, as summer warmth at this time encourages good root development. Cuttings of bushy sage produce a new young plant identical to mother plant. The young shoot will be planted out in ground the following spring.

What do I need?

One or more pots, buckets or a mini‑greenhouse or a tray.
A pencil.
A pruning shear (remember to clean and disinfect it with alcohol before use to avoid spreading diseases between plants).
A growth cloche or a plastic bottle with the bottom removed or a plastic bag
Seed and potting compost
A spray bottle with water
A root activator (facultative)

How to take bushy sage cuttings under cover?

1- Fill the pot with seed and potting compost up to 2 cm from the rim, then firm it down with your hands.

2- Moisten the compost, ideally with rainwater.

3- Using your pencil, make one or several holes 3 to 4 cm deep.

4- On your sage, look for healthy green shoot tips. If possible, favour branches without flowers. If the stem bears flower buds or flowers, remove them.

Note: to increase your chances of success, we recommend taking 3 to 5 cuttings at once.

5- Using your pruning shear, cut shoots 5 to 10 cm long, just below a node, i.e. the point where leaves attach.

Take one or several shoot tips from your bushy sage for taking cuttings

6- Remove lower leaves from your cutting to prevent the cutting from becoming exhausted through excessive transpiration.

Remove lower leaves from the shoots

7- You can also use a plant hormone for cuttings to boost root development. Simply tap the base of the stem lightly into the hormone.

8- Plant the sage stems in the pot.

9- Firm the compost around the stems to keep them upright.

10- Place a growth cloche over your cuttings to saturate the atmosphere with humidity. This is called taking cuttings under cover. If you do not have a growth cloche, use a plastic bottle with the bottom removed. You can also place a translucent plastic bag, held up by bamboo stakes. Warning : stem and leaves of the cutting must not touch the cloche to avoid mould!

11- Place your pot in a bright spot but out of direct sunlight.

11- Water the compost regularly to keep it constantly moist but not waterlogged. Never let it dry out. Every 3 or 4 days, lift the cloche for 30 minutes to renew the air.

13- Roots will be well developed after 2 to 3 months. You can then remove the cloche and repot your sage into a larger pot.

14- During winter, move your sage into a greenhouse or into a bright, unheated room.

15- Your young sage can be planted out in ground the following spring.