Ornamental sage is increasingly found in home perennial gardens, but also in public open spaces. This is where it makes sense to plant hardy perennials in order to achieve permanent greenery. But even in your own garden, plants that survive the winter well reduce the maintenance work in spring.
Which ornamental sage varieties are hardy?
Ornamental sage varieties such as 'Amethyst', 'Blue Hill', 'New Dimension Rose', 'Caradonna', 'Amber' and 'Porcelain' are considered hardy. However, it is advisable to protect them with a layer of brushwood in winter and not to cut back much in autumn.
Types of hardy ornamental sage
The ornamental sage plants available here are cultivated forms and hybrids that do not set seeds. The varieties that survive the winter without damage are offered commercially in a wide variety of colors and shapes. From the extensive selection, you can choose exactly the right type of sage for your home perennial garden. Particularly popular are:
- ‘Amethyst’
- ‘Blue Hills’
- ‘New Dimension Rose’
- ‘Caradonna’
- ‘Amber’
- ‘Porcelain’
Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’
This is an approximately 70 cm high ornamental sage with a blue flower, the color of which is reminiscent of the semi-precious stone of the same name.
Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Hill'
The ornamental sage called “Blue Hill” is a low, cushion-like type of sage. It only reaches a height of 40 cm. Its flowers are similar to those of lavender.
Salvia nemorosa ‘New Dimension Rose’
This ornamental sage also reaches a height of 40 cm and blooms in a delicate pink.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’
This sage has unusual dark purple spikes on brown-purple flower stalks. With a height of 60 cm, it is one of the largest types of sage.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Amber’
Cream-yellow flowers with an amber to wine-red color in the throat adorn the sage plant, which grows over a meter high. Due to its size, it is suitable as a solitary perennial in the bed and can be combined well with tall grasses.
Salvia nemorosa ‘Porcelain’
'Porcelain' a very rare variety that is valued by gardening enthusiasts who love something special and pay attention to fine details. At first glance, porcelain has pure white flowers, but their center shines sky blue.
Overwintering sage
Although many types of sage are considered hardy, they should still be covered with a layer of brushwood in winter. Very low temperatures below zero or cold frosts can also damage robust perennials.
Sage cultivated in pots or containers should be left frost-free over the winter, as the soil freezes quickly in small containers. In the fall, no major pruning should be done otherwise frost damage could occur. The annual topiary is carried out in spring.
