Salvia confertiflora

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Sabra spike sage

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Sabra spike sage RHS
Sabra spike sage RHS
Sabra spike sage RHS 1999
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Bedding Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial
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A tender, woody-based perennial to 1.2m tall, with scalloped yellow-green leaves to 20cm long, strongly scented when crushed, and slender spikes of small scarlet-orange flowers with deep red calyces, in late summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–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 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
Correct
Plant Range
Brazil

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 seed in containers in a cold frame in spring. 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

  • Coastal
  • Patio and container plants
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Sub-tropical
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Bedding
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Cut back spent flower spikes to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly; outdoors may be attacked by slugs and snails, capsid bug, rosemary beetle and leafhoppers

Diseases

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