Autumn Sage Salvia greggii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-uh GREG-ee-eye
- Description
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Autumn sage is a small, herbaceous perennial or somewhat woody sub-shrub in the Lamiaceae (mint) family. Growing 2 to 3 feet tall and wide, it is native to Texas and found mainly on rocky slopes. Different cultivars offer flower colors from red to coral, and some are mixed with white. Salvia, the genus name, comes from the Latin word salveo, meaning ‘be well’. Greggi is in honor of 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 stem cuttings. This plant attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators and is seldom damaged by deer. It is drought and slightly salt tolerant.
Good locations for autumn sage are slopes, banks, and naturalized areas. Use it as a border, hedge, or mass planting in a children’s, 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 offered 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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- Elk Pomegranate
Raspberry colored flowers - 'Lipstick'
- 'Wild Thing'
Pink blooms, plant is more cold hardy
- Elk Pomegranate
- Elk Pomegranate, 'Lipstick', 'Wild Thing'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Elk Pomegranate
Raspberry colored flowers - 'Lipstick'
- 'Wild Thing'
Pink blooms, plant is more cold hardy
- Elk Pomegranate
- Elk Pomegranate, 'Lipstick', 'Wild Thing'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- greggii
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Texas
- 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.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- 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 Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Schizocarp has 4 chambers with 1 nutlet each
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- 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
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
