Autumn sage
Salvia greggii · Lamiaceae
📷 Stan Shebs · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Autumn sage is in full bloom: enjoy it, watch watering in hot weather and let spent flowers feed pollinators before pruning.
ID card
- Common name
- Gregg's Sage
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Form
- Shrub
- Adult height
- Approximately 120 cm
- Foliage
- Evergreen, fine and aromatic
- Flowering
- June to October, tubular flowers in red, pink or white
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Zones 8-11, not very hardy beyond
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Heat and drought tolerant. Pinch out young shoots once to get a bushier shape rather than a thin column.
The common mistake
Watering regularly: this sage loves dry conditions and suffers from overly wet soil.
The pro's trick
Cut it back to 30 cm in March: it'll bounce back bushier and more beautiful, with even longer flowering.
Care
Exposure
Install your Gregg's sage in full sun, with at least 6 hours per day, for generous and vigorous flowering. It appreciates warm and sheltered locations, particularly in cold regions.
Watering
Once established, this sage tolerates drought well and requires little water. Water moderately during the growing period, then reduce considerably in autumn and winter. Ensure impeccable drainage to prevent root rot.
Soil
Opt for well-drained, light soil, ideally poor to average. Soil that is too rich in organic matter promotes foliage at the expense of flowering. Adding sand or gravel improves drainage.
Pruning and trimming
Prune lightly in early spring to maintain a compact and bushy shape. Remove spent flowers regularly to stimulate continuous blooming. Avoid severe pruning that could weaken the shrub.
Fertilizer
Apply a balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring. Excessive fertilizing reduces flowering and promotes excessive foliage development. A single application is generally sufficient for the season.
Diseases and pests
This sage is generally robust. Watch for powdery mildew in humid and stagnant conditions. Excessive moisture at root level can cause rot; always improve air circulation through the foliage and soil drainage.
Did you know?
Gregg's sage is named after American botanist Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), who collected it in Mexico. This species is highly prized by hummingbirds and butterflies, who feast on its tubular flowers throughout the growing season.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- ThymeThymus vulgaris
- LavenderLavandula angustifolia
- SageSalvia officinalis
- BasilOcimum basilicum
- RosemarySalvia rosmarinus
- BugleAjuga reptans
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.