Plant Library

Other Names:  Autumn Sage

Group/Class:  Suncrest Series

Description:

A lovely cultivar of salvia producing dainty pink and white blooms, on contrasting black stems all season; a beautiful addition to borders or beds with its compact, bushy form; looks fantastic in containers

Ornamental Features

Autumn Moon Sage has masses of beautiful spikes of shell pink flowers with white overtones and black calyces rising above the foliage from late spring to mid fall, which emerge from distinctive pink flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive fragrant oval leaves remain green in color throughout the season. The black stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Autumn Moon Sage is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Autumn Moon Sage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Autumn Moon Sage will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Autumn Moon Sage is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.