Salvia greggii Mirage Burgundy

Salvia greggii Mirage Burgundy is a variety of shrubby sage with a naturally compact habit, which flowers abundantly from spring to autumn, without interruption if the soil remains moist in summer. Its magenta-red flowers, of a good size for this type of sage, bloom abundantly on a small bush adorned with small dark green leaves that are pleasantly aromatic. Relatively hardy and drought-tolerant, it is a very good plant for decorating terraces or sunny flower beds. 

Salvia greggii Mirage Burgundy is part of a recent series of shrubby sage varieties, the "Mirages," selected for their compact and uniform habit as well as their increased floribundity. This collection offers a beautiful range of pastel or vibrant colours that can be easily combined with each other or with other blooms, in pots as well as in the ground. The wild ancestor of the Mirage Sages, called Texas Sage, belonging to the family of lamiaceae or labiates, is an aromatic plant native to the mountains of eastern, western, and southern Mexico, as well as southern Arizona. 

The Mirage Burgundy Sage is a branching perennial shrub with a bushy and erect habit, almost as wide as it is tall. It will reach about 45-50 cm (18-20in) in all directions, depending on the growing conditions. The nectar-rich flowering is particularly long and generous, starting from May and until autumn, if summer drought or cold do not put an end to it. The elongated flower spikes emerge from the foliage and each flower measures barely more than 2 cm (1in) in length. The two-lipped corolla, enclosed by a violet calyx, is a beautiful dark magenta-red. The flowers only live for a day, covering the ground with their petals in the evening, but will already be replaced the next morning. The evergreen foliage is composed of small elongated leaves, 2-3 cm (1in) long, dark green, thick and aromatic, a bit sticky, releasing a strongly scented fresh and tangy essential oil when it is hot. In case of intense drought, the plant may partially lose its leaves, without affecting its health. New buds will develop as soon as the rains return. The plant will withstand short frosts of around -10 to -12°C in very well-drained soil.

This Mirage Burgundy shrubby sage can be used in pots and in flower and shrub beds. It accompanies the spring blooms of tulips and peonies, then those of roses, campanulas, and other summer perennials. But its association with autumn asters is fabulous: choose those that are easy to grow like Aster ericoides, Aster turbinellus, or Aster amellus for example. In a rockery or in a dry garden, combine it with rosemary, Perovskia, Caryopteris, Gauras, and tall Sedums (Sedum Matrona). On the terrace, place it in a large pot, right next to a 'red baron' Imperata cylindrica; the combination of colours and shapes is fantastic!

In Mexico, delicious tea is made with the leaves of Salvia greggii, which is called 'mountain myrtle' there.