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Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ (Tricolor Sage)

Tricolor Sage, Sage 'Tricolor Sage'

Salvia Officinalis 'Tricolor', Tricolor Sage, Sage 'Tricolor Sage', Fragrant shrub, Evergreen shrub

Prized for its kaleidoscope of colors, Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’ (Tricolor Sage) is a spreading evergreen sub-shrub with strongly aromatic, oblong, gray-green leaves adorned with cream-white and pink streaks. The leaves may be used fresh or dried in cooking. In early summer, it sends up whorls of two-lipped, light blue flowers on short, upright flower spikes. Great for the herb garden, Tricolor Sage is a foliage plant that is also wonderful in perennial borders and cottage gardens.

  • Easy to grow, Tricolor Sage grows in clumps up to 12-18 in. tall and wide (30-45 cm).
  • Enjoys full sun (light shade is tolerated) in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils. Avoid excessive winter wet.
  • This superb cultivar is really an interesting plant that makes an attractive accent in beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardenscottage gardens, Mediterranean gardens, herb gardens or containers.
  • Keep an eye out for sage leaf hopper, capsid bug, slugs, foot and root rots, powdery mildew and verticillium wilt.
  • Drought tolerant and deer resistant, it is attractive to bees, butterflies and occasionally to hummingbirds.
  • Clip the foliage back in spring to promote fresh new leaves.
  • Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or semi-hardwood in late summer
  • Salvia: Discover 10 Key Benefits of Growing Sage in Your Garden

Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide


Here are some tips on how to plant and grow salvia successfully

Requirements

Hardiness 6 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 10
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Herbs, Perennials, Shrubs
Plant Family Lamiaceae
Genus Salvia
Common names Sage
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden, City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Salvia microphylla (Baby Sage)
Salvia pratensis (Meadow Sage)
Salvia nemorosa ‘Perfect Profusion’ (Sage)
Salvia rosmarinus ‘Albus’ (Rosemary)
Salvia rosmarinus ‘Spice Island’ (Rosemary)
Salvia rosmarinus ‘Severn Sea’ (Rosemary)

Recommended Companion Plants

Penstemon ‘Garnet’ (Beardtongue)
Iris ‘Dusky Challenger’ (Bearded Iris)
Pennisetum villosum (Feathertop Grass)
Lychnis coronaria (Rose Campion)
Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’
Agastache ‘Blue Boa’ (Giant Hyssop)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

Salvia: Discover the Top Benefits of Growing Sage in Your Garden
Salvia Varieties for a Stunning, Water-Wise Garden
Salvia nemorosa (Woodland Sage)
What is Salvia? Understanding Its Role in Gardening and Beyond
Top 70 Summer Flowers to Brighten Your Garden and Home
50 Best Fall Flowers for Your Autumn Garden
Desert Shrubs: Essential Plants for Dry Gardens
Desert Flowers: Bringing Color to Dry Gardens
50 Fall Wildflowers: Top Picks for a Vibrant Autumn Garden
50 Summer Wildflowers: Bright Blooms for Your Garden
50 Wildflowers that Thrive in Sun
50 Blue Wildflowers for Every Garden
50 Pink Wildflowers for Every Garden
50 Purple Wildflower to Brighten Your Garden
50 California Wildflowers: From Desert Blooms to Coastal Gems
50 Texas Wildflowers to Brighten Your Garden
Top 50 Most Beautiful Flowers Worldwide
Stunning Blue Flowers to Enhance Your Garden’s Beauty
Add a Splash of Color: Perfect Flowering Shrubs for Small Gardens
42 Best Perennial Flowers and Plants to Brighten Your Garden Every Season
30 Best Spring Flowers to Spruce up Your Garden
How to Create an Enchanting Butterfly Garden
For the Love of Butterflies: Best Flowers to Attract them to Your Garden
6 Reasons You Should Create a Butterfly Garden
Salvia (Sage)
Best Annual Flowers and Plants to Spruce up Your Garden
Hummingbird
18 Best Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Rosemary: Learn How To Plant, Grow and Harvest
Salvia yangii (Russian Sage)
Best Annual Flowers and Plants for Full Sun
Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects
Companion Planting With Herbs
Great Rose Companion Plants: Nepeta, Salvia and Lavandula
Best and Worst Companion Plants for Rosemary
Hardy Perennial Salvias (Sage)
Salvia guaranitica (Blue Anise Sage)
Plants with Purple Flowers to Add Charm to Your Garden
Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 6 - 10
Heat Zones 1 - 10
Climate Zones 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Herbs, Perennials, Shrubs
Plant Family Lamiaceae
Genus Salvia
Common names Sage
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 18" (50cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Mediterranean Garden, City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Salvia (Sage)
Guides with
Salvia (Sage)
Not sure which Salvia (Sage) to pick?
Compare Now

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