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Autumn Sapphire™ Salvia

Salvia reptans

$11.19
$11.19 $13.99
per Plant - 5" Deep Pot
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ZONES  5-10 | Good to grow! Zone
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Salvia reptans 'Autumn Sapphire™' (West Texas Grass Sage) is a semi-dwarf form of Salvia reptans selected by the Colorado Plant Select® program that blooms in early fall with a profusion of small cobalt-blue flowers.

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Description

Salvia 'Autumn Sapphire®' is an upright growing, plant with a compact habit that makes it a good choice for the middle of the perennial border. Selected by the Colorado Plant Select® program, 'Autumn Sapphire®' a semi-dwarf form of Salvia reptans that blooms in early fall with a profusion of small cobalt-blue flowers that are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Native to the higher elevations of the Davis Mountains of West Texas, Salvia reptans has proven itself to be a cold hardy perennial well suited to xeriscapes in the western US. Javelina resistant

Planting & Care

Tips For Growing Salvia

Salvia (commonly referred to as ‘Sage’) represent a huge family of ornamental plants that attract a variety of pollinators to their nectar rich flowers. They are resistant to deer and rabbits.

  1. Plant in full sun.
  2. Plant native Western Salvia varieties in soil that is low fertility and well-drained.
  3. Plant Old World Salvia in a wide range of soils (loams, sand) including clay.
  4. Many spring-flowering varieties of sage will re-bloom in fall if deadheaded after the first bloom.
  5. New transplants need regular irrigation their first growing season to establish themselves. Once established they will need regular, deep irrigation during hot, dry weather.
  6. During fall garden clean-up, wait to cut back the plants until spring for improved cold hardiness.
  7. In colder USDA zones (zone 6 and below) it is essential to give Native Southwestern and Southwestern hybrids protection from the extreme cold their first couple winters in the garden. Mound up pine needles or fallen autumn leaves over and around the base of the plant.

Western Native Salvia: : It is from the Western US that we find our most beautiful native salvia species. For attracting hummingbirds, there are no finer flowers than the Western native sages. Typically, this group of Salvia prefer ‘lean’ (not very fertile), well drained soils. They will grow in dry clay conditions in arid climates but will rot out in clay soils where there is more than about 15 to 18” of precipitation annually.

Western Salvia include:

  • Salvia greggii - ‘Furman’s Red’, ‘Cold Hardy Pink’
  • Salvia hybrids - ‘Maraschino’, ‘Raspberry Delight’, ‘Ultra Violet’ and ‘Burgundy Seduction’.
  • Salvia pachyphylla and Salvia dorrii is recommended for arid western gardens.
  • Salvia azurea and Salvia reptans - Early fall bloomers with excellent cold hardiness.

To get established in USDA zones 5 & 6, Western Salvia (noted above) must be planted in spring or early summer, not in the fall. Protect your new plants over their first winter or two in your garden. Cover each plant with a generous pile of clean straw or pine needles. This allows the plant's crown (junction of root and branches) to mature and obtain maximum cold hardiness.

Old Wolrd Salvia: The Old World Salvia include some of the very best, most durable, longest-lived perennials. These salvia are an excellent choice for gardeners across most of the United States. ‘Old World’ Sages bloom primarily in shades of blue, pink and white. They are well adapted to cold climates and a wide range of soils including clay. The European Salvia are incredibly attractive to honey bees, many of our native bees and bumble bees as well as butterflies.

Old World varieties include:

  • Salvia syslvestris'Lyrical Rose', 'May Night', 'Little Night', 'Caradonna' and 'Marcus'.
  • Salvia daghestanica
  • Salvia verticiliata

More in-depth guidance for growing Salvia:Planting Nectar Rich Salvia to Attract Pollinators to the Garden

Shipping

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As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (801) 769-0300 or contact us by email or chat.

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Key Features

Light Requirements

  • Full Sun

Water Tolerance

Low-Water

Bloom Time

Late summer to early fall

Advantages

  • Attracts Hummingbirds
  • Native
  • Deer Resistant
  • Rabbit Resistant

Additional information

Mature Height

18-24" tall

Mature Spread

16-18" wide

Soil Type

  • Average Soil
  • Sandy Soil
  • Clay Soil
  • Compost Enriched Garden Loam Soil
  • Low Fertility Soil
  • Well-Drained Soil

Soil Moisture

  • Waterwise

Planting Time

  • Fall

Awards

Plant Select®

Native To

North America

Growing Zones

  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
  • Zone 9
  • Zone 10

Can Send To PO Box

No

Ships to Hawaii & Alaska

No

Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 10 reviews.

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Reviews

Hoping for good results

"Plants arrived in good condition . So far they are looking fine . Hoping to see some blooms when summer arrives."

— Jan (5/5)

Excited anticipation

"I can't wait to see this when it blooms. The color is so unique and fantastic. I want to really try as many salvias as I can over the next few years. Thank you for these healthy plants and all the vast choices."

— Vicky (5/5)

I did buy this again!

"I purchased one of these several years ago and now it is a lovely large plant that comes up with little care and blooms beautifully in the fall. So I purchased another one for a different location and am looking forward to seeing the pretty blue flowers each fall."

— LibraryLady (5/5)

Will buy this survivor again for my Zone 10a garden!

"I bought this plant in late Spring 2022 along with too many other plants (poor planning). Didn't get to it until weeks later, when it was the last small pot survivor. It had lost its label so I stuck it in full sun, plain soil, and watered it. Within 2 weeks, we had the longest super hot spell (98 -110 degrees) we've ever had here and it survived with occasional hand watering. In early fall it was only about 1' tall but had the most incredible blue flowers. I recognized it as a salvia, but only today got its proper identification when I found a copy of the original shopping cart list and checked the photo online. It still survives and I plan to buy more when they become available again."

— Low G. (5/5)

attracts Lesser Goldfinches and Pine Siskins too

"Right now my Salvia reptans has about a dozen Lesser Goldfinch and Pine Siskins eating the seeds. They love it. The goldfinches go out to the ends of the stalks and end up having to hang upside down to get at all the seeds."

— Linda (5/5)

A fall favorite

"The cobalt blue flowers late in the season and gorgeous and hummingbirds love it. One of my favorite landscaping finds over the years."

— Kit (5/5)

Find the right site

"I planted this plant in Davis Ca where it received partial sun most of the day. It stayed around one foot tall for two years and had pretty flowers. I moved West to a warmer, sunnier, location with amended clay soil and it took off to five feet in the first season! Beautiful flowers cover the plant which remains airy and see thru. Am ordering more!"

— Sweetpea (5/5)

Blue Steel

"Planted in my Zone 5 gravel garden. Ordered 9 plants for delivery in May; now in September all 9 are in bloom. While the foliage is lovely on its own, the deep blue of the flower is arresting. No reservations about recommending this one."

— Tinkering A. (5/5)

Stunning cobalt blue flowers on very healthy plant

"This plant was such an awesome surprise. I planted it in a brand new court yard here in Santa Fe last spring. It grew VERY vigorously and topped out at about 40"" tall. It grew so fast and thick that it hid the tag and all summer long I was wondering what it was going to do as I couldn't tell what kind of plant it was. It seemed like overnight in mid fall it burst into the most beautiful intense blue I have seen. I do hope it re seeds well as I want to transplant a bunch of them to the front of my courtyard all. It did get a good bit bigger than advertised. Looking forward to a hedge of these beautiful blue blooms this coming fall if seedlings come up!"

— Texan N. (5/5)

Love it!

"It looks so delicate, but is quite hardy and the bees and butterflies love it."

— Shari (5/5)

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