Salvia dombeyi

RHS Plant Profile

giant Bolivian sage

RHS

Other common names

Sacred Incan sage

Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse

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A spreading shrub with long, slender scrambling stems up to 2.5m tall and heart-shaped mid-green leaves to 20cm long. Clusters of long, pendulous, bright red, hairy flowers up to 9cm long emerge from dark purple calcyes and are borne from summer into autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: West–facing or 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: Semi 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: Correct
Plant Range: Peru Bolivia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in peat-free potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun. Grow outdoors in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or dappled shade in a frost-free border. Protect from excessive winter wet. Climbing stems benefit from support provided by other plants or a trellis. See our video How to care for tender salvia for more advice

Propagation

Propagate from softwood cuttings or semi-ripe cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Gravel garden
Sub-tropical
Wildlife gardens
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 9; cut back overwintered plants in spring

Pests

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

Diseases

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