Autumn Sage (Salvia greggi)

Vital Facts:Autumn Sage is a full sun or partial shade shrub that is not only fast growing, but also deer resistant and flowers all through the blooming period until November.  There are quite a few colors of this popular sage, including white, yellow, pink, and fire red.  Warm summers will bring out its fragrant scent from its leaves, which can be used as lavender.  It grows to 3.5 feet tall with a 3.5 feet spread.  Just like lavender, this is a great one for people on the go during summers, as it likes to be deep watered once or twice a month, and only really hates ‘wet feet’ of overwatering. Landscape uses of Salvia greggii are many. It is a natural for use in containers, masses, or borders, for low-maintenance landscape color.

Growing conditions: It prefers full sun and fast-draining or sandy soil. Once established, deer grass is fairly hot and drought tolerant, but would appreciate occasional deep waterings in our hot climate. Make sure to amend your clay soil and not to plant in an area where water pools in the winter.

A few fun facts: The species name ‘Greggii’ honors Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), an early American explorer and botanist. S. Greggii is native to dry, sunny sites in southern and western Texas and New Mexico , and southeastern Arizona .  It may also be found in the Mexican states of Coahuila , Sonora , and Durango .

Helpful Hints: In landscape developments where a refined look is desired, the plants respond very well to periodic shearing to remove old flower stems during the summer. Irrigation and mulching during unusually dry periods will ensure repeat flowering from May through November in most of the Groveland area.

Suggestions:      To prevent deer from munching on this fragrant plant in the mint family, make sure to ‘grow it hard’, meaning to let it dry out between waterings.  This makes any plant in the mint family (Lavender, Sage, Rosemary) increase the amount of fragrant oil as a defense against the sun and predators, such as deer.