Common Names: Red Autumn Sage, Cherry Sage, Gregg Salvia
Autumn Sage is a charming, soft mounding shrub that typically grows to about 2-3 feet tall. Its small aromatic green leaves are evergreen in warmer climates. From spring to frost, the plant showcases small, reblooming red flowers that attract hummingbirds and bees. You can find it naturally ranging from south-central and west Texas down to San Luis Potosi in Mexico, often nestled on rocky slopes. The wild variety most often blooms red, but can be found in an array of colors.
A favorite for gardens in the Southwest, Autumn Sage makes a delightful addition as a small ornamental flowering shrub in a perennial bed or as a charming low hedge. Autumn sage is not only disease- and insect-free but also drought-tolerant, which means you won’t need to fertilize it once it’s nicely established.
To thrive, Autumn sage loves a well-drained site, and doesn’t do well in heavy clay soils. You can improve clay soil by incorporating organic matter and amendments for better drainage and, if possible, plant it on a slope. Though it generally tolerates the cold, this shrub may become deciduous in regions with frigid winters, and some cultivars flourish even beyond their natural range in places like Oklahoma and Colorado. It prefers to avoid heavy foot traffic due to its delicate, brittle stems.
BONAP MAP
Height: 2′-3′ Spread: 2′-3′ Bloom: Spring – Fall Light: Full Sun-Part Sun Water: Low Zone: 7-10 Origin: Texas
