Texas sage is so easy to propagate from cuttings that you can start a new plant nearly any time of year. Water the cuttings prior to transplanting. Plant seedlings and cuttings outdoors when they are 3 inches tall and there's no lingering danger of frost. The white sage (Salvia apiana) is known as the traditional smudging sage of Native American tribes. Sage stems are hollow. Help prevent the spread of disease when taking cuttings from an existing sage plant by using clean, sanitized handheld pruners. Also beginning in May, the alpine cleveland sage (Salvia clevelandii) blooms until December or later. Thin out the seedlings so there are four to five left in each pot. Deep purple flowers produced midsummer to fall. Hummingbird Sage Uses In addition to its ability to attract pollinators, this plant makes an excellent ground cover under trees and in shady island gardens.Its scented foliage makes it unattractive to deer, yet is pleasantly When they're 3 inches tall, separate the seedlings, one to a pot, if you're keeping them indoors. And now is a great time to enjoy this fragrant perennial. Flowers by the Sea: Sage Words About Wildlife: Attracting Hummingbirds to Your Garden, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: Salvia Spathacea Greene, Missouri Botanical Garden: Salvia Coccinea "Forest Fire", Fine Gardening: Salvia Dorrii (Desert Purple Sage), Missouri Botanical Garden: Salvia Guaranitica, Missouri Botantical Garden: Salvia Leucantha, Las Pilitas Nursery: California Native Sages, North Coast Gardening: Nectar Plants for the Hummingbirds to Enjoy, University of California Cooperative Extension: Plants That Attract Hummingbirds: Zones 8 and 9. Mexican bush sage's bloom times overlap those of the other species, beginning in May and continuing until the first frost. To stratify your seeds, you need a Ziploc® bag and some sterilized sand (you can sterilize sand by baking it in an oven at 300°F [150°C]). © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. While these native sages are pollinated by bumblebees, hummingbirds are also attracted to the white blossoms. Then in two weeks when the cutting has developed roots, remove the bag. After the first frost, when most sages die back, avoid pruning the dead stems. It thrives in USDA zones 8 through 10. The most common type of sage plant is gray-green, although there are purple, white and gold varieties available. Dump out the excess water and sprinkle sage seeds on top of the peat moss and perlite mix. Sage seeds germinate far better if they are stored at a low temperature for a few weeks before being sowed. While reds and pinks are the predominant colors, they also come in white, yellow, blue and purple, and thrive in nearly every climate zone. Root top cuttings with the lower leaves removed in a well-drained, sterilized mix over bottom heat and better yet insert it after dipping end into a rooting hormone. Zones 8–10, or grown as an annual. As the desert purple sage's blossoms fade, anise-scented sage (Salvia guaranitica), native of South America, provides deep blue flowers from July to October. The rapid burr of tiny wings may startle you as a hummingbird buzzes closer to investigate your red shirt. Salvia guaranitica: Anise-scented sage, hummingbird sage. Fill the bag with some of the sand, then add the seeds and shake gently. The Best Sage Plant for Attracting Hummingbirds. Read on for tips on propagating Texas sage. Place the pot in a bright location out of direct sunlight. Cuttings work well for most sages including the hummingbird sage. Amistad Salvia may be propagated using either softwood or semi-ripe cuttings. Fill a 5-inch-deep pot that has drainage holes in the bottom with a mix of equal parts peat, perlite and sand. How To Propagate Friendship Sage. and their many cultivars are among the hummingbirds' favorite flowers. A smaller variety, the creeping black sage (Salvia mellifera repens), grows 1 foot tall and 6 feet wide. Hummingbird sage thrives in light shade, blooming from March through May in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7a through 11. Anise-scented sage and the native Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) are hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10. Hummingbird sage grows best in sunny to semi-shaded locations on well drained soils and with moderate amounts of water during spring and low amounts of supplemental water during summer. For best results, these should be potted and allowed to take root when possible. Water, drain and enclose pot and all in a clean plastic bag and place in a bright spot out of direct sunlight. Alternatively, take semi-ripe cuttings during the middle of the summer. Start germinating your sage seeds six weeks before you plan to plant them outdoors. How to Propagate Weeping Japanese Cherries, How to Propagate Creeping Fig Ground Cover, How to Grow Phlomis Russelliana From Seed, How to Grow Mint From Cuttings Hydroponically, University of Illinois Extension: Herb Gardening: Culinary Sage, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Disinfecting Your Garden Tools, How to Propagate a Mexican Orange Blossom Bush. Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage) - A low growing semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial sage with a ground-cover mounding habit 1 to 2 feet tall and spreading slowly by underground rhizomes to about 4 feet in time. Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage) - A low growing semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial sage with a ground-cover mounding habit 1 to 2 feet tall and spreading slowly by underground rhizomes to about 4 feet in time. Set the pot on a tray and water it thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom and into the tray. Remove the bottom set of leaves from the cutting, put it in the hole you made and gently press the soil around the stem, taking care not to bury any leaves. Sage has fuzzy, fragrant leaves that are most often used in sauce, stuffing and salad recipes. How To Propagate Blue Anise Sage. Plant Hummingbird Sage in dry shaded or partly shaded areas. How to Propagate Sage. The name spathacea means "with a spathe", which refers to the large, colorful bracts that enclose the flower cluster. Space the plants 15 to 18 inches apart in your garden and prune the top 1 inch off each branch to encourage additional branching for a bushier, more compact appearance. When choosing between sage seeds and cuttings, keep in mind that the University of Illinois Extension says that seeds may take years to yield a harvest. Hummingbirds are attracted to red -- … With degrees in fine and commercial art and Spanish, Ruth de Jauregui is an old-school graphic artist, book designer and published author. The white-blossoming black sage (Salvia mellifera) blooms from March through July in USDA zones 7 through 10. Among the red and pink sages that thrive in a Mediterranean climate are hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea), "Navajo Bright Red" (Salvia greggii "Navajo Bright Red") and scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea). Propagating sage is something you can try at home using seeds or cuttings taken from an established plant. Blooming from April through September, "Navajo Bright Red" prefers full sun and is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 11. Providing a continuous food source helps keep hummingbirds flitting through your garden from early spring until fall, when they migrate to warmer climates. She enthusiastically pursues creative and community interests, including gardening, home improvement and social issues. It will stay very moist this way, but do add water if the soil dries out. Set the pot on a tray and water it thoroughly until water runs out of the bottom and into the tray. Because of the harvesting methods of some sellers, you should use caution when purchasing seeds and plants, making sure they're from reputable sources. Many experts advise taking 4-inch (10 cm.) The flower stems rise 2-3 ft. above the foliage and may carry up to 10-20 rose-pink blossoms in maroon calyxes, with large maroon bracts under each whorl. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Stick them in a glass of water, cut end down, to keep them from wilting. Use a 5-inch-deep pot that has drainage holes in the bottom and fill it to 1/2 inch from the top with a mix of equal parts peat moss and perlite. Softwood cuttings are best planted in early spring, while semi-ripe ones should wait until early summer or late summer. Taking Cuttings from Texas Sage Plants. Hummingbird Sage is very drought tolerant, and after the first year, can usually make it through the summer without any supplementary water, though it tends to go semi-deciduous without occasional irrigation. Thriving in USDA zones 9 through 10, white sage blooms from March through September. The plant is slightly sticky to the touch with pleasingly aromatic arrow-shaped light green leaves that can grow to 6 inches long and are wrinkled on top and hairy beneath. Zones 8–10. Prized for its attractive flowers and pleasant scent, Salvia spathacea (Hummingbird Sage) is a semi-evergreen, spreading perennial boasting brilliant flowers borne in large pagoda-like whorls on upright, stout stems. It is frost-tender, thriving in USDA zones 9 and 10. The University of Florida IFAS Extension suggests first cleaning the blades of your tool with a clean, damp rag or paper towel. Wrap the entire pot in a clear plastic bag so that it doesn't touch any of the sage leaves. It thrives in USDA zones 7 through 10. The sages (Salvia spp.) Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a perennial herb that can be grown in the garden or in containers indoors.