You can choose the best time to plant the vegetables, herbs, and flowers you want to grow by knowing your climate zone. You can also choose varieties that will do well in your garden. Most of the time, the best garden results come from planting plants that do well in your climate zone.
Grow Guide #2316 Family: Lamiaceae Binomial name: Salvia sp. Life Cycle: Perennial (sometimes grown as an annual)
Home gardeners can learn everything they need to know about how to plant, grow, and take care of Salvia (Salvia sp.) in this How to Grow guide. ).
Salvias are a beloved garden flower known for their brightly colored blooms and attractive foliage. With so many salvia varieties to choose from, it’s easy to add striking beauty and pollinator appeal to flower beds, borders and containers Salvia seeds can be direct sown outdoors or started indoors. Follow this step-by-step guide to successfully plant salvia seeds and grow these ornamental favorites from seed to bloom.
When to Plant Salvia Seeds
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In cool climates start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Move seedlings outside after hardening off.
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In warm climates, sow seeds directly in the garden after the last frost.
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Or sow indoors 2-4 weeks before transplanting into the garden after frost season is over.
Check the expected “days to maturity” for the salvia variety and count backwards from your first fall frost date when planning sowing times.
Choosing a Salvia Variety
Some top salvia varieties for home gardens include:
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Salvia farinacea (mealycup sage) – blue flower spikes, upright growth
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Salvia splendens (scarlet sage) – vivid red blooms, compact plant
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Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage) – velvety purple flowers, drought tolerant
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Salvia microphylla (baby sage) – red, pink or white blooms, small leaves
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Salvia elegans (pineapple sage) – edible flowers and foliage, sweet scent
Consider bloom color, height, growth habit and growing conditions when selecting seeds. Check seed packet for details.
How to Start Salvia Seeds Indoors
Starting salvias from seed indoors takes a little longer but helps get plants off to an early, vigorous start. Here’s how:
Supplies Needed:
- Seed starting mix or potting soil
- Cell packs, trays or pots
- Plastic dome or plastic wrap
- Watering can or spray bottle
- Grow lights (optional)
Step 1: Fill Seed Starting Containers
Fill cell packs, trays or pots with moistened seed starting mix. Tap gently to settle surface.
Step 2: Sow Seeds
Sow salvia seeds on the surface of the soil. Space seeds according to package directions, usually 1/8 inch apart.
Step 3: Cover Seeds & Water
Gently press seeds into the soil surface but don’t cover them fully. Mist soil with spray bottle to water thoroughly but avoid washing seeds away.
Step 4: Provide Gentle Heat (Optional)
Cover trays with plastic domes or plastic wrap to retain moisture. Provide bottom heat of 70-75°F to encourage germination.
Step 5: Remove Covers Once Seedlings Emerge
In about 14-21 days, seedlings will begin to emerge. Remove any domes or plastic once the first shoots are visible.
Step 6: Care for Seedlings
Place seedlings in bright indirect light or under grow lights on a 14-16 hour daily schedule. Water soil as needed to keep moist but not saturated.
Step 7: Harden Off & Transplant Outdoors
Over 7-10 days, gradually expose seedlings to periods of direct outdoor sunlight and light breezes to harden off. Transplant into garden after frost risk has passed.
How to Direct Sow Salvia Seeds Outdoors
Sowing salvia seeds right in the garden is an easy, direct way to get flowers growing. Follow these tips:
Supplies Needed:
- Salvia seeds
- Garden rake
- Row markers
- Watering can with rose nozzle
Step 1: Prepare Soil Bed
Select a site in full sun with fertile, well-draining soil. Rake bed smooth and remove any weeds or debris.
Step 2: Sow Seeds Outdoors
Once frost danger has passed, sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 8-12 inches apart in rows, or scatter seeds over a bed and lightly rake in.
Step 3: Label Rows & Water
Mark rows with name and date sown. Gently water seeds in with a rose nozzle watering can.
Step 4: Maintain Moist Soil
Keep seedbed consistently moist but not saturated until seedlings emerge in 10-20 days.
Step 5: Care for Seedlings
Apply organic mulch around young plants once established. Water 1-2 inches per week during dry periods.
How to Care for Salvia Plants
Proper care once established results in vigorous, flowering salvia plants:
- Pinch back leggy growth to encourage bushiness
- Stake tall varieties like Salvia farinacea
- Deadhead spent flowers to prolong blooming
- Watch for aphids, spider mites, powdery mildew
- Prune back after flowering to promote new growth
Provide plenty of sun and well-draining soil. Avoid overwatering. Apply organic fertilizer regularly for prolific flowering.
When Do Salvias Flower?
Most salvia plants will begin flowering about 8-10 weeks after germination. However, exact bloom time depends on several factors:
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Variety – early vs late blooming types
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Growing conditions – salvias bloom faster in warm climates
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Start time – earlier sowing means earlier blooms
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Where grown – container plants may flower sooner than in-ground plants
Be patient for those first marvelous blooms. Fast-growing annual salvias typically bloom soonest.
How to Harvest Salvia Seeds
To collect seeds from open-pollinated salvia plants:
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Identify flower spikes once bloom period is over. Seeds pods will begin to form.
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Allow pods to fully ripen and dry out completely on the plant.
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Once brown, crunchy and splitting open, detach entire seed heads.
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Spread pods on a screen or paper plate indoors to finish drying.
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Crush pods to separate salvia seeds. Sort and store seeds in envelopes or jars.
Collected seeds can be sown the following year for new salvia plants!
Common Problems Growing Salvias
Salvias are not particularly prone to pests or diseases. But occasionally the following issues may arise:
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Powdery mildew – Shows as white powdery spots on leaves. Improve air circulation and avoid wetting foliage.
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Aphids – Small sucking insects that cluster on new growth. Knock off with water spray or use insecticidal soap.
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Slugs/snails – Create copper barriers and remove debris where they hide. Handpick at night.
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Spider mites – Tiny pests that cause stippling damage. Blast off with water or use neem oil.
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Leaf spots – Dark lesions on leaves. Improve drainage and avoid wetting leaves. Apply organic fungicides.
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Legionella longbeachae – A serious soil-borne bacteria. Avoid splash watering and use sterile seed starting mix.
Promptly address any problems seen to keep salvias growing strongly.
How to Overwinter Salvias
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Take stem cuttings in late summer to propagate tender perennial varieties. Grow the clones indoors over winter.
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Dig up small first-year plants and pot up to overwinter indoors in cool, bright conditions.
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Mulch hardy perennial types well in fall to insulate roots from freezing. Cut back dead growth in spring.
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Allow plants to self-sow by dropping seeds. New volunteer seedlings will emerge the following spring.
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Treat short-lived salvias as annuals and replant each year from fresh seeds.
Choosing hardy, perennial salvia varieties that tolerate colder zones makes overwintering easier. Protect tender plants from freeze damage.
Achieve Salvia Success!
From vivid red Salvia splendens to fragrant tricolor Salvia ‘Amistad’, gorgeous salvias can take your garden’s flower power to the next level. Plant salvia seeds or transplants in prepared soil and full sun for the best results. Water new plants frequently until their root systems establish. Then sit back and wait for those splendid salvia blooms to start shining in your landscape.
When to Sow Salvia Seeds
Salvias can be warm-season annuals or perennials that grow year round in most climates. Use the table below to identify the best time of year to sow salvia seeds in your climate.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cool | |||||||||||
| Temperate | |||||||||||
| Sub-Tropical | |||||||||||
| Tropical | |||||||||||
| Arid |
- Includes: Alice Springs, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo
- Summers are hot and dry, and winters can be warm or cool, depending on where you live. From the coast of Western Australia to Charleville (Qld), Tamworth (NSW), and Albury-Wodonga (NSW/Vic), this area is very big.
- Includes: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Exmouth
- It rains most of the year in the summer, and the winters are dry and warm. Ranges across northern Australia from Exmouth (WA) to south of Townsville (Qld).
- Cities like Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, and the Sunshine Coast are included.
- Warm humid summers with high summer rainfall and mild winters. Along the coast of Queensland and northern New South Wales, from north of Mackay to just south of Coffs Harbour
- It includes Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Wollongong, Bunbury, and the Central Coast of NSW.
- Moderate humidity and reliable rainfall, with four distinct seasons. Covers the coast of NSW from north of Port Macquarie to south of Woollongong, as well as the coast of SA and the southeast coast of WA.
- Includes: Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mt Gambier
- It’s hot and dry in the summer and cold and dry in the winter, and there’s not much humidity. Some regions will experience frosts and snow. Australia’s southeast coast and the mountains in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania are all part of this area.
Salvia plants are best grown in full sun. Choose a location that will receive at least 6 hours of full sun each day.
Some salvia plants are perennial, meaning they live for several years. If you are growing a perennial plant, put it in a permanent spot where it won’t be dug up or otherwise disturbed often.
Salvia plants need a well drained soil enriched with plenty of organic matter. To get soil ready, get rid of all the weeds, dig it up a bit, and add aged animal manure or compost. Keep the area free of weeds until planting. Learn more about preparing soil for planting here.
Salvia plants can be grown in containers. If possible choose a variety that’s recommended for container growing. Make sure you use good potting mix and that the pot is big enough for the plants to grow into; for salvia, you should have at least 10 liters. During the growing season, remember that plants that are grown in containers might need extra fertilizer to grow well.
How to Use Climate Zones
First, find your climate zone using the map or descriptions below. The next step is to look at our sowing chart. It shows when to plant our most popular seeds in each climate zone.
Even though knowing your climate zone can help you plan your garden, there are many other things that could affect how your plants grow, such as weather that isn’t typical for the area, the microclimate of your garden, and how you take care of your plants. You know your garden better than we do, so if you think a different climate zone would work better for it, feel free to use that as a guide.
Our climate zones cover a lot of land in Australia, so gardeners should think about what and when to plant in their own area as well. One example is that gardeners in cool coastal areas have longer growing seasons than gardeners in alpine areas, even though both are in our “Cool Temperate” climate zone. People who live in cool places should look at the “days to maturity” information for each variety and pick ones that will be ready in a short growing season (6–12 weeks).
- Includes: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Exmouth
- It rains most of the year in the summer, and the winters are dry and warm. Ranges across northern Australia from Exmouth (WA) to south of Townsville (Qld).
- Set as my climate My climate
- Includes: Alice Springs, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo
- Summers are hot and dry, and winters can be warm or cool, depending on where you live. From the coast of Western Australia to Charleville (Qld), Tamworth (NSW), and Albury-Wodonga (NSW/Vic), this area is very big.
- Set as my climate My climate
- Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, and the Sunshine Coast are all included.
- Warm humid summers with high summer rainfall and mild winters. Along the coast of Queensland and northern New South Wales, from north of Mackay to just south of Coffs Harbour
- Set as my climate My climate
- It includes Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Wollongong, Bunbury, and the Central Coast of NSW.
- Moderate humidity and reliable rainfall, with four distinct seasons. Covers the coast of NSW from north of Port Macquarie to south of Woollongong, as well as the coast of SA and the southeast coast of WA.
- Set as my climate My climate
- Includes: Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mt Gambier
- It’s hot and dry in the summer and cold and dry in the winter, and there’s not much humidity. Some regions will experience frosts and snow. Australia’s southeast coast and the mountains in Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania are all part of this area.
- Set as my climate My climate
What if I can’t find my climate zone? If you can’t find your zone by looking at the map or the descriptions on this page, think of a place with a climate that is similar to yours and use that place’s zone as a guide.
But what if I live on the edge of two zones? If you live on the edge of two zones, you should read about both of them and choose the one that best describes your climate. If your garden has its own microclimate, you might be able to grow more plants for longer than people in your zone can. Lucky you!.
What is a microclimate? A microclimate is a small area where the weather is different from the rest of the area in terms of temperature or humidity. For instance, if you live in an area where frosts are common but your garden is protected by walls or big trees, it might not freeze. Also, if you live in a warm temperate zone but your garden is high up, your microclimate may be more like that of a cool temperate zone. Use this to help you figure out which zone applies to you.
Can I grow types that aren’t listed for my climate zone? Our climate zones and sowing chart will help you figure out what you can plant in your garden, but they’re just suggestions. We suggest that you begin by planting seeds that are native to your climate zone. After a few successful attempts, you can try varieties that grow in nearby zones and see how they do. After all, gardening is all about trying new things!
Grow Guide #2316 Family: Lamiaceae Binomial name: Salvia sp. Life Cycle: Perennial (sometimes grown as an annual)
Home gardeners can learn everything they need to know about how to plant, grow, and take care of Salvia (Salvia sp.) in this How to Grow guide. ).
Everyones Guide to Sowing Salvia Seeds: Tips and Tricks for Success!
FAQ
Should salvia seeds be soaked before planting?
What month do you plant salvia?
Do salvia seeds need to be covered?
What is a Salvia plant?
Salvia is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is a popular garden plant, and there are many different species and cultivars to choose from. Salvias are known for their beautiful flowers, which come in a wide range of colors.
Can you grow Salvia from seed?
Salvia is easily grown from seed, but it’s important to sow seeds after any threat of frost or freeze has passed. For best results, allow the soil temperature to warm to at least 60 to 65 degrees before planting. Waiting for warmth is a big key to success.
How do you grow a Salvia plant?
A few simple steps are all that’s needed to get your salvia plants up and blooming in no time. With the right knowledge and care, you can have a beautiful, vibrant garden of salvia blossoms in no time. Lightweight, well-drained seed starting mix. Germination temperatures should range from 65-75°F. Space seeds 1/4 inch apart.
How do you harvest Salvia seeds?
Harvesting: The first step is to harvest the seeds from mature salvia plants. Wait until the flowers have faded and the seed pods have dried out. Gently squeeze the pods to release the seeds. Cleaning: After harvesting, you need to separate the seeds from any debris or chaff.
