Salvia nemorosa can be planted immediately upon receipt in pots and planters or directly in the garden.

If potting for on the patio, use a large planter with holes in the base. Cover the holes with potsherds or gravel and add fresh potting compost to the pot. Stand the woodland sage at the appropriate depth and at 25 cm intervals. Fill the pot with soil and press firmly down. Water generously immediately.

Salvia nemorosa in the garden.

If planting Salvia nemorosa in the garden, you can space them slightly further apart. Improve poor soil with a mix of potting compost. This salvia likes a limey soil. Do ensure good drainage.

Salvia nemorosa is an easily grown, very profusely flowering garden plant. Give it a mulch of some well-rotted manure in early spring. Cut back to around half of its height in April.

Remove faded flower stems to encourage reflowering and extend the flowering season. Add plant food to the water regularly and you will be rewarded with even more profuse flowering.

Keep this plant healthy by uprooting and splitting it every three years and add fresh soil to its new home.

Salvia nemorosa over the winter

Salvia nemorosa is hardy as long as the surrounding soil is not too wet. Potted salvia is best kept in a frost-free area.

The original species Salvia nemoeosa is a hardy herbaceous perennial plant native of the forests and open areas of Asia Minor (Turkey) and is commonly known as woodland sage. The flower spikes grow all summer through and attract lots of butterflies.