Tender salvias

RHS Genus Guide

Great for providing fresh, vibrant colour in late summer and early autumn. Tender salvias won’t normally survive the winter outdoors, so take cuttings and overwinter in a frost-free greenhouse or replace plants lost to frost with new ones the following spring.

Botanical name: Salvia

RHS / Sarah Cuttle

Appearance

A diverse group including shrubby Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage) and the well-known Salvia ‘Amistad’. Most colours are available.

Preferences

Boost late-season flowering of tender salvias by planting in a position that still gets plenty of sun in autumn.

Dislikes

Tender salvias won’t survive hard frosts or prolonged cold or wet.

Did you know?

An alternative to taking cuttings is to dig up your tender salvias and keep them in pots somewhere light and frost free over winter. Or, plant them in containers to start with and move them indoors when frost threatens.

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RHS Recommended

Tender salvias

Mexican bush sage

Salvia leucantha

Mexican bush sage

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

gentian sage

Salvia patens

gentian sage

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

gentian sage 'Cambridge Blue'

Salvia patens 'Cambridge Blue'

gentian sage 'Cambridge Blue'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Tehuacan sage

Salvia curviflora

Tehuacan sage

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Sabra spike sage

Salvia confertiflora

Sabra spike sage

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

pineapple sage

Salvia elegans

pineapple sage

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

anise-scented sage 'Black and Blue'

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

anise-scented sage 'Black and Blue'

Height: 1.5–2.5 metres
Width: 1–1.5 metres

sage 'Kisses and Wishes'

Salvia 'Kisses and Wishes'^PBR

sage 'Kisses and Wishes'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

rosy-leaf sage 'Boutin'

Salvia involucrata 'Boutin'

rosy-leaf sage 'Boutin'

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

Guatemalan leaf sage

Salvia cacaliifolia

Guatemalan leaf sage

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Andean silver-leaf sage

Salvia discolor

Andean silver-leaf sage

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sage [Love and Wishes]

Salvia Love and Wishes ('Serendip6'^PBR)

sage [Love and Wishes]

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sage 'Amistad'

Salvia 'Amistad'^PBR

sage 'Amistad'

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Award of Garden Merit

Plants for pollinators

See all Tender salvias