Salvia tubiflora

RHS Plant Profile
tubular Chilean sage

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Synonyms

Salvia oppositiflora misapplied

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Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse
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A bushy, spreading, evergreen perennial to about 45cm with aromatic, textured leaves, and tubular, red-orange flowers with purple-flushed calyces in spikes on thin, upright stems from mid-summer to mid-autumn. The whole plant, including the flowers, is softly hairy

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

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

Growing Conditions

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 Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
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

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in light, moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun with shelter from cold, drying winds. In frost-free areas in winter, protect from excessive wet, while in frost-prone areas move plants under cover, or take cuttings to provide next year's plants. See our video How to care for tender salvia for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Coastal
  • Bedding
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Cut back faded flower spikes to prolong flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

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