The showy deep blue flowers of this plant bloom in late spring and remain through much of the summer. They are best planted in spring or early summer and are fast-growing. They are magnets for pollinators, and your garden can become a butterfly lover’s paradise. The purple bracts and semi-evergreen gray foliage also add a further splash of color throughout the year (although you should expect some leaf drop in colder winter conditions). The highly aromatic leaves that have mild hallucinogenic properties have traditionally been used by Native Americans in herbal medicine and for tribal ceremonies. If you’re concerned about your soil being overly fertile, acidic, or not fast-draining, then it would be better to grow your purple sage in containers. Make sure the potting medium you select is incredibly fast draining and that the pots have decent-sized drainage holes too.
Light
Purple sage loves the sun. You should select a spot where they get plenty of direct sunlight. South-facing slopes are a perfect choice. The only exception will be if you live in a region that experiences particularly intense desert conditions. In these instances, they may appreciate some afternoon shade. If your purple sage doesn’t get enough sun, it won’t produce such impressive blooms, and can be more prone to scale or problems with aphids or mealybugs.
Soil
Purple sage suits areas with poor quality, infertile soil. They don’t appreciate rich, acidic, or irrigated conditions. In fact, they often do better growing from a mound of sand or gravel if the soil in your garden is slightly richer. If you don’t have a fast-drying, well-draining soil, it would be better to plant your purple sage in containers to ensure they get the drainage they need.
Water
Once purple sage is established, it needs little to no watering, even in the summer months. These plants are an incredibly drought-tolerant species, and this is what makes them such a perfect choice for desert gardens where very few other flowering plant species can survive. Overwatering can shorten the life expectancy of your purple sage. The plant will be less healthy, and it can suffer from root rot.
Temperature and Humidity
Purple Sage thrives in inhospitably hot and dry conditions. It isn’t suited to gardens with mild summer temperatures or high humidity.
Fertilizer
Because this plant enjoys dry, infertile conditions, they don’t need a lot of nutrients. It’s best to steer clear of fertilizers as this can shorten the life of your purple sage.
Purple Sage Bush Varieties
It’s worth noting that it isn’t just Salvia dorrii that is referred to as purple sage, and this can sometimes cause confusion and misidentification. Some of the other species that use this name include San Luis Sage (Salvia leucophylla), Giant-Flowered purple sage (Salvia pachyphylla), Frosted Sage (Poliomintha incana), and Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens).
Varieties of purple sage vary by growth habit and include the following:
Salvia dorrii var. carnosa is a large-leaved shrub commonly found in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.Salvia dorrii var. pilosa is a small-leaved shrub that’s native to California.Salvia dorrii var. clokeyi, also known as Clokey’s Mountain Sage, is a low-spreading variety with deep purple-blue flowers.
Pruning
Purple sage sees new branches growing every season, although most of these die back in the winter. This means that pruning isn’t necessary. Light pruning, however, particularly of the outer branches, can help the plant to maintain an upright form and encourage healthy growth. When the bracts start to fade, removing the heads of the flowers can also help the plant to look a little neater.
Propagating Purple Sage Bush
Purple sage can be propagated from established semi-hardwood cuttings at any time of year. Best results are usually seen if they’re taken in the latter part of the year and started off in a greenhouse. The established cuttings can then be transplanted out to their permanent site in spring. It’s also possible to divide existing plants.
How to Grow Purple Sage Bush From Seed
With the right conditions, purple sage can establish quickly from seeds. To increase the chance of success, they should go through a period of cold stratification and be kept consistently moist until they germinate.
