Salvias

Most salvias prefer full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. They will tolerate partial shade, but flowering is usually heavier in a sunny spot. In hot climates, some afternoon shade can help protect foliage from scorching. Good drainage matters more than anything else.

The best time to prune salvias in Australia is late winter or early spring, just before new growth appears. Cut them back by about one third to one half to encourage bushy regrowth and a strong flush of flowers. You can also lightly trim them after each flowering cycle through the warmer months to promote repeat blooming.

Perennial salvias can live for many years with the right care. Most will give you 5 to 10 years of reliable flowering, sometimes longer. Regular pruning keeps them compact and productive. If a plant becomes leggy or woody at the base, it is often easier to replace it with a fresh one.

Some salvias spread gently by underground runners or self-seeding, but most stay as tidy clumps. Species like Bog Sage can spread more readily in moist conditions. If you want to keep things contained, growing salvias in pots works well and keeps them in check.

Spring and autumn are the best times to plant salvias in most parts of Australia. In subtropical areas like the Gold Coast, you can plant almost year-round as long as you water them in well. Avoid planting during the hottest part of summer or during frost periods in cooler regions.

No, salvias are not native to Australia. Most species come from Central and South America, with others from the Mediterranean, Africa and Asia. However, they have adapted extremely well to Australian conditions, especially in warm and temperate climates. See our Australian native plants collection for locally indigenous species.