Salvia elegans 'Tangerine'

RHS Plant Profile
tangerine sage

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Synonyms

Salvia elegans 'Tangerine Sage'
Salvia officinalis tangerine

Herbaceous Perennial Shrubs
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A bushy sub-shrub to 90cm tall, with light green, ovate leaves strongly tangerine-scented, and tubular red flowers 3cm long in short spikes in winter and spring. The red flowers are edible and the tangerine-scented leaves can be used to flavour dishes, drinks and teas

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in well-drained, peat-free potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun; can be moved outdoors during the summer months. See our video How to care for tender salvia for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or early summer or semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or autumn with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back spent flower spikes to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and capsid bug, aphids, glasshouse red spider mite and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to foot and root rots under glass