Salvia microphylla

RHS Plant Profile

baby sage

RHS

Synonyms

Salvia macellaria misapplied

Shrubs

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An evergreen shrub with light green, aromatic, ovate leaves and deep red flowers in terminal racemes in late summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun

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): H4

Colour & Scent

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: Correct
Plant Range: Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, moist but well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold winds; may need protection from excessive winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by basal or softwood cuttings in spring or early summer or semi-ripe cuttings 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
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Pruning group 9, cut back spent flowers to prolong flowering

Pests

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

Diseases

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