Salvia greggii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh GREG-ee-eye
- Description
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Autumn sage is a small, herbaceous perennial or semi-woody sub-shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, it is native to Texas and Mexico and found mainly on rocky slopes. The species epithet honors Josiah Gregg (1806–1850), a botanist and explorer, who discovered the plant on an exploration through Texas.
This sage prefers full sun but tolerates afternoon shade in regions with high summer heat. It needs well-drained soil and tolerates rocky soil. The cultivar 'Wild Thing' reportedly has better winter hardiness than species plants. Propagate it by semi-ripe stem cuttings, which root easily. It is drought- and salt-tolerant.
Autumn sage and little leaf sage (S. microphylla) are the parents of Salvia × jamensis. All three taxa are popular ornamental plants but are difficult to distinguish from one another. Many modern cultivars are difficult to place in any of these three taxa. This plant attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators and is seldom damaged by deer. The seeds of autumn sage are eagerly sought by seed-eating birds.
Autumn sage is great on slopes and banks, and in naturalized areas. Use it as a border, hedge, or mass planting in a children’s, rock, butterfly, pollinator, or drought-tolerant garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Floricyle Pinehurst Greenway Pollinator Habitat Garden, Moore County Part Shade Garden, Durham County Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden Rock & Water Garden Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Rock and Crevice Garden West Side Foundation Planting in Cabarrus County
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Dark Dancer'
Burgundy flowers. prolific bloomer. - 'Elk Pomegranate'
Raspberry colored flowers - 'Furman's Red'
Red flowers - 'Lipstick'
Magenta flowers - 'Wild Thing'
Pink blooms, plant is more cold hardy
- 'Dark Dancer'
- 'Dark Dancer', 'Elk Pomegranate', 'Furman's Red', 'Lipstick', 'Wild Thing'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dark Dancer'
Burgundy flowers. prolific bloomer. - 'Elk Pomegranate'
Raspberry colored flowers - 'Furman's Red'
Red flowers - 'Lipstick'
Magenta flowers - 'Wild Thing'
Pink blooms, plant is more cold hardy
- 'Dark Dancer'
- 'Dark Dancer', 'Elk Pomegranate', 'Furman's Red', 'Lipstick', 'Wild Thing'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- greggii
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Texas & adjacent Mexico
- Distribution:
- south-central and west Texas south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico, mostly on rocky slopes.
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is seldom damaged by deer. Seed-eating birds eat the seeds.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Leaves can be used fresh or dried for seasonings and teas, and the flowers are edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarp has 4 lobes with 1 nutlet each
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are tube-shaped and two-lipped (smaller upper and larger lower lip) and about one inch long, appearing in terminal spikes.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Description:
- Square stems are woody and very brittle.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
