Amistad sage

Perennial · Subshrub

Salvia ‘Amistad’

Amistad sage

Also known as: Salvia guaranitica 'Amistad' (misapplied)

An award-winning sage with large, deep purple flowers held in near-black calyces from early summer to the frosts.

  • Full sun, Partial shade
  • 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
  • 50–90 cm (20–35 in)
  • H3 · Zone 9
  • June–November
  • Deciduous
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

Raised in Argentina (its name means 'friendship'), this vigorous, upright sage produces a remarkable non-stop display of large, velvety, deep purple tubular flowers set in dark, almost black calyces, from early summer until the first frosts. Bees and butterflies visit constantly, and in the Americas so do hummingbirds. It survives about -5°C in a sheltered, well-drained spot, especially if mulched, but taking cuttings in late summer is a wise insurance in colder gardens.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun, Partial shade
Height 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
Spread 50–90 cm (20–35 in)
Hardiness H3 · Zone 9
Flowers June–November
Soil Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Bushy, Upright
Water Moderate
Maintenance Easy

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -5°C (23°F)
pH Range 6–8
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • East-facing
  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Soil Tolerance

  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Salvia ‘Amistad’ (Amistad sage) foliage
Persistence Deciduous
Colour Green
Leaf shape / texture ovate_aromatic
  • Autumn colour

Foliage interest: April–November

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Propagate
  • Flowering Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
  • Foliage Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
  • Propagate Apr May Aug Sep

Maintenance Calendar

  • Apr Cut the old stems down to new shoots at the base once growth appears, because last year's stems shelter the crown through winter
  • Jun Give a light balanced feed and water in dry spells to keep it flowering
  • Aug Take cuttings of non-flowering shoots as a back-up against a cold winter
  • Nov Leave the stems standing and mulch the crown thickly with dry compost or bark, insulating the roots from frost

Garden Design

Works well in: Cottage, Modern / Contemporary, Wildlife-friendly

Plant in groups near the middle of a sunny border; the dark purple glows next to orange dahlias, lime-green foliage or silver grasses.

Companion planting: Dahlias, Grasses, Cannas, Orange or lime flowers

Wildlife Value

  • Bees
  • Butterflies
  • Other pollinators
  • Birds
  • RHS Plants for Pollinators

Safety

Not known to be toxic, but this is an ornamental sage, not a culinary herb.