Salvia greggii 'Desert Blaze' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

autumn sage 'Desert Blaze'

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Other common names

sage 'Desert Blaze'

Synonyms

Salvia × jamensis 'Sparkler'
Salvia greggii 'Sparkler Cream'
Salvia greggii 'Desert Sun'
Salvia greggii 'Sparkler'
Salvia × jamensis 'Desert Blaze'
Salvia coccinea 'Desert Blaze'

Shrubs

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'Desert Blaze' is a bushy plant to 65cm tall, evergreen if not cut back by frosts, with small, aromatic, ovate, grey-green leaves edged with cream and yellow. Scarlet-red flowers are borne in terminal racemes in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or 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): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
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

Grow in light, moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Needs a sheltered position, but usually overwinters if given full sun and good drainage. Drought tolerant

Propagation

Propagate by basal cuttings or 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

Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9 in spring and deadhead to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to leafhoppers, slugs and snails and rosemary beetle

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots