
How to Plant Salvia
- Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches, removing any large stones or roots. Mix in a 3-inch layer of compost to provide nutrients.
- If planting in a container, add some grit to the compost to improve drainage and feed in spring. Plants grown in a garden soil don’t need feeding.
- Dig a hole twice the diameter of the container the plant is in.
- Choose a sunny to partial shade position. ...
- If the soil is heavy or is not free draining add lots of well rotted compost to the area and dig it in well.
- It can be planted all year long if the soil is not frozen and you can water well when conditions are dry.
How do you take care of Caradonna Salvia?
'Pusztaflamme' (Plumosa): rosy-pink flowers. ‘Schwellenburg’: rosy-purple flowers. ‘Rosenwein’ (‘Rose Wine’): pink flowers. If you deadhead Caradonna salvia flowers (that is, remove the spent blooms), the plants will flower all summer long. Fertilize the plants by working compost or manure tea into the soil.
How do you plant a salvias?
Choosing a Location 1 All salvias thrive in full sun and well-drained soil. 2 Many varieties (typically those with light-colored flowers) will also do well in part-shade, but flowering will be reduced. 3 A south-facing location is ideal. 4 Salvias look great when planted in groupings of three or more.
How tall does Caradonna Salvia grow?
Caradonna salvia plants reach about 2 feet in height, with a similar spread. However, foliage comprises only about 1 foot of that height: the rest is taken up by the exquisite flower spikes, which tower above the foliage.
What is Salvia nemorosa Caradonna?
Multiple award-winner, Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' is a favorite of many gardeners for its unique, glowing dark purple stems and stunning, vertical spikes of rich, violet-blue flowers appearing in late spring or early summer. Very striking in the garden when in bloom, they last for weeks and bring strong color and form to the early summer border.
See more

How do you plant salvias?
Dig a hole twice the diameter of the container the plant is in. Remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole so the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface. Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety. Carefully fill in around the plant and firm the soil gently.
Is Caradonna salvia a perennial?
Attractive, with glowing purple backed stems and rich deep purple blue flowers. It provides a long, showy period of bloom. Salvia Caradonna is great planted with perennial Geranium or purple Heuchera. Butterflies adore Salvia....Details.Type:PerennialsFlower:PurplePot Size:3.5" square x 4" deep6 more rows
What type of soil do salvias need?
Salvia plants love moderately acidic to slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 - 6.5. If you determine the pH isn't quite right and your plant is already established within the ground, mix a small amount of compost and potting soil in a bucket.
How tall does Caradonna salvia grow?
'Caradonna' is an erect, clump-forming perennial salvia that is noted for its dark purple stems and blue-violet flowers. It typically forms a foliage mound to 12” tall. Medium green leaves are aromatic when crushed. In summer, dense terminal spikes of violet-blue flowers rise above the foliage to 24” tall.
What time of the year do you plant salvias?
Salvia needs warm soil to grow well, so wait until the last frost has passed to set out plants. Start seeds indoors in individual containers or set out purchased plants.
How many years do salvias live?
In my years of working with these types of woody, shrubby salvias I found that some needed to be replaced before or around the 5-year mark. Perennials don't live forever after all. No worries though because they grow fast.
Can you use Miracle Grow on salvia?
To fertilize any container-grown plant, it is best to mix Osmocote slow-release fertilizer into the potting mix before planting then fertilize weekly with a water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Grow or Peters 20-20-20.
Where is the best place to plant salvias?
sunny spotAll salvias thrive in a sunny spot. They need well-drained soil and thrive on stony or poor soils. If you are gardening on heavy clay, you will need to improve the soil before planting. All salvias are likely to die in waterlogged soil in winter.
How often should you water newly planted salvias?
every 7-10 daysSalvias/sages do not require a great deal of water. Over watering can rot the roots so we list them as either low water usages (supplemental watering only during periods of drought) or medium water usages (1 inch of water every 7-10 days-can be either rainfall or supplemental watering).
Should you cut back salvias?
Once the flower spikes have faded (generally in early summer), cut the stems right back down to the base. This will encourage a second flush of blooms. Leave the second lot of stems over winter to protect new growth from frosts. Then, cut all old growth off in spring, leaving new, green growth intact.
What month do salvias flower?
Height 50cm. Origin Garden hybrid. Conditions Sun or part shade in well-drained soil. Season Flowers from June until the end of September.
Do you cut down salvias after flowering?
These salvias, S. nemerosa especially, flower in late spring to early summer at which point the flowers start fading as the rest of your garden is taking off. It's at this time you can act brutally in summer and cut the entire plant back down to the lowest shoots.
Do salvias come back year after year?
Herbaceous perennial salvias such as Salvia nemorosa and Salvia x sylvestris are hardy and come back year after year. Tender perennial salvias such as Salvia greggii can come back year after year but are not completely hardy and may need protection over winter.
Are there any salvias that are perennials?
A favorite plant for many gardeners, blue salvia is an easy perennial to grow. It flowers profusely all summer, and tolerates periods of drought. It's a great choice for borders and containers, plus it's native to areas of North America.
Which salvias are winter hardy?
People typically plant them in spring, compost them in late fall, and replant the following spring. By contrast, Color Spires® and Profusion salvias are very cold hardy plants (down to zone 3, -40°F).
Are salvias hardy perennials?
SALVIA BASICS Most varieties can be used as perennials in zones 5-9, with some varieties cold hardy to zone 4 or heat tolerant to zone 10.
What to plant under salvia?
One nice container planting idea we have seen is to under plant with snow drops or daffodils. By the time your salvia wakes up from its winter rest the daffodils or snow drops will have died down.
What is a similar plant to Salvia Nemorosa Caradonna?
A similar alternative to Salvia Nemorosa Caradonna is Salvia Nemorosa Ostfriesland.
How big does Caradonna grow?
Use the checklist below to decide if Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' is suited to your preferences and garden conditions: They grow to roughly 50cm / 20 inches high, and will spread to around 30cm / 1 foot in three years but the centre of the plant remains very compact.
How long does Salvia Nemorosa live?
SALVIA NEMOROSA CARADONNA. Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' , sometimes called Balkan Clary, is a perennial which has a life expectancy of many years. They can be left to their own devices for six or seven years and may then benefit from being divided into two or more individual plants which will then live for many more years after that.
How to make a rootball for a syringe?
Dig a hole twice the width of the rootball. Sprinkle in a handful of blood, fish and bone and work into the ground. Place the plant into the hole, filling in with soil so that it is at the same depth as was in the pot. Fill around the rootball and firm the soil down gently but firmly.
What is the best soil for Salvia Nemorosa?
The best soil for growing Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' is a light well draining one such as loam, chalk or sand. They do not do well on clay unless it has been improved with lots of organic matter to help drainage. They tolerate full sun to semi-shade conditions. The best flower colour occurs in a sunny position.
How long can salvia be left to its own?
They can be left to their own devices for six or seven years and may then benefit from being divided into two or more individual plants which will then live for many more years after that. This variety of Salvia has won several awards including the RHS Award of Garden Merit. A large number of expert garden designers include it in their top ten ...
How tall do salvias grow?
Salvia are heat- and drought-tolerant, making them survivors in the summer garden. They grow 18 inches to 5 feet tall, depending on the variety. Salvias of all types can be grown in containers, too.
What is salvia used for?
The name Salvia comes from the Latin word salvere, which means “to heal.”. Salvia has been used for its herbal and medicinal qualities since ancient times.
What is the name of the herb that grows on square stems?
See how to plant, grow, and care for Salvia. Part of the mint family (Lamiaceae), salvias appear as a colorful spike of densely-packed flowers with tubular blossoms atop square stems and velvety leaves. The common kitchen herb garden sage — Salvia officinalis —is actually a type of salvia; it’s a relative of the many ornamental species ...
How many species of salvia are there?
There are over 900 species of salvias and many of the tender perennial species are popular as annuals in regions where they are not fully winter hardy.
How to cut a sage plant?
Remove the lower leaves and trim each cutting just below a node. Insert cuttings into a pot of pre-watered compost. Cover the pot with a clear plastic bag— try to avoid the bag touching the foliage. Place cuttings in a cool greenhouse and put up shading to prevent scorching from strong sunlight.
How to grow a garden in a container?
Preparing a Planting Site. Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches, removing any large stones or roots. Mix in a 3-inch layer of compost to provide nutrients. If planting in a container, add some grit to the compost to improve drainage and feed in spring. Plants grown in a garden soil don’t need feeding.
When does sage bloom?
Autumn Sage (S. greggii) – Is drought tolerant and has brilliant colors. It blooms through the summer and into the fall. Hybrid Sage (S. x superba) – This group is perfect for colder areas. The plants are 12 to 24 inches tall and bloom in late spring to early summer.
Where was salvia first cultivated?
Lots! Salvia was first cultivated in the Mediterranean where it was a key ingredient in a wide range of culinary and medicinal uses that go back centuries.
Where did Salvia divinorum originate?
Salvia divinorum was originally grown in Mexico and used by the Mazatec people as a “vision-inducer” for their spiritual rituals. The elders deeply respected the plant, praying before the harvest, and only using it for meditation and deep spiritual exploration.
How many species of salvia are there?
Salvias are beautiful! Simple as that. Many gardeners are already familiar with Salvia and for good reason. There are over NINE HUNDRED species in the genus Salvia and it’s a mainstay in gardens all over the world.
Why is Salvia a good friend?
Well, for starters, because they’re beautiful, easy, and dependable flower-garden friends. Undeterred by drought, deer, rabbits, woodchucks, beetles, or slugs, Salvia just keeps motoring along, all season long. They need very little attention and pay you back with interest when you pay them the right kind of attention.
What is the easiest perennial to grow?
Salvias are like that old childhood friend you still love to hang out with: easy-going, dependable, and undeterred by life’s ups and downs. Salvias are perhaps the easiest perennial, next to daylilies, that just about anyone can grow with success. There are so many amazing choices of Salvia that it’s hard to get bored by them.
Why are salvias so popular in New England?
Regardless of whether you’re a flower newbie or an accomplished gardener, Salvias are a traditional New England favorite because of their beauty, dependability, and ease-of-care. Plant some in your garden if you haven’t already. The bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will be glad you did -- and so will you!
What is the color of the caradonna?
Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’ has flowers that are deeper purple and tightly arranged for a stiffer, upright look in the garden.
How to propagate salvia from cuttings?
You can either start propagating salvia from cuttings by placing them in water or by putting them in soil. If you opt for salvia cutting propagation in water, just put the cuttings in a vase and add a few inches (8 cm.) of water. After a few weeks, you’ll see roots growing.
How long does it take for salvia to grow?
One good medium to try is a 70/30 mix of perlite/vermiculite and potting soil. Again, expect roots in about 14 days.
How many species of salvia are there?
There are over 900 species out there and every gardener has a favorite, like the deep purple clusters of Salvia nemorosa. If you have salvia and want more of these easy-care beauties, nobody can blame you. Fortunately, it’s not difficult to propagate. Can you grow salvia from cuttings?
Can You Grow Salvia from Cuttings?
With seed propagation, this isn’t always the case. Anyone with sage plants can start propagating salvia from cuttings. It’s easy and virtually foolproof.
How long do salvia plants last?
Learning how to prune salvias will help to boost their lifespan, which can surpass 10 years with the right growing conditions. Anne Swithinbank for Amateur Gardening says how her 'Lemon Pie' salvia, which she prunes hard every spring, has lasted 20 years through many cold, wet winters.
What are the different types of salvia?
The range of salvias is huge: the RHS lists annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, and shrubs on their website. There are characteristics that they all have in common though – paired, often aromatic leaves, with two-lipped flowers arranged in whorls in spikes or racemes.
What is the color of Salvia greggii?
Varieties include the well-loved Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' and the brilliantly-red Salvia greggii 'Flame'.
How to cut flowers in summer?
In summer, be sure to deadhead blooms. Snip them off, making your cut just above a set of leaves. This will neaten up the appearance of the plants and encourage repeat flowering.
Do you need to prune salvias?
With annuals, there's no pruning required – simply lift and pop them in your compost bin at the end of fall. But perennials need an annual chop to keep them in check and encourage healthy growth for many years. And when it comes to learning how to prune salvias, it's important to take the variety you're growing into account, as the approach is slightly different. We cover all the tips you need for the three main groups – deciduous herbaceous, shrub, and rosette-forming – below.
When to take cuttings from a plant?
However, hardiness varies across varieties, so in cold regions, it's best to take summer cuttings as backup, Anne adds. She suggests to do this in July or August, taking either 3–4in heel cuttings or shoot tips. You can learn more about how to take cuttings from plants in our dedicated guide.
Does salvia die in winter?
This variety of salvia tends to die back in winter, especially if it's cold. Varieties include Salvia elegans 'Scarlet Pineapple', which has pineapple-scented foliage and red blooms, and Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'.
