There can be no finer plant blooming in my garden this month than the Pineapple Sage, aka Salvia elegans. Okay, maybe the Angel Trumpets, but I just posted on them. I must confess this is the first year I have grown this sage and I am in love! This plant has been trouble free, grows in part sun in an inhospitable spot on the edge of a new garden, and just grows and grows. See how big it has gotten with no help from me? Despite being planted too close to a few beautyberries and other plants, it has held its own and even shined. It is the big green plant on the right in the picture below with the beautyberries on the left.
The foliage is gorgeous and let's not forget why it is called Pineapple sage. The foliage, leaves and stems smell a bit like pineapples. I always enjoy showing visitors this plant and they are duly impressed, though some can't quite get the scent at first try.
According to my Southern Living Garden Book, Pineapple sage grows to 2-3 feet, with light green leaves that have a fruity taste and scent. The leaves can be used to flavor drinks. I also found on Wikipedia that Pineapple sage is used extensively by Mexicans to treat anxiety and depression. The Southern Living Garden Book also says Pineapple sage is hardy only to the coastal and tropical south; which does not include my Zone 6/7 garden. We are located in the Upper South. I have taken cuttings of my Pineapple sage and you can rest assured, it will grow in Tiger Gardens again next year.
in the garden....
...and it's in the colour that'll bring/add life to any garden! Then there's the taste and the aroma too! A very deserving Plant of the Month. Loved it, Tina.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, this is a glorious plant and yours looks so healthy. For several years offspring Semi had one mother and many babies that would return each year so don't dig it up or cut it back (Semi school you know ;->). That year with the late spring freeze finally killed the original plant but there are babies still hanging in. It is late to emerge in the spring too, so don't be too hasty to neaten it up. Or just use your cuttings and buy a new one, it is worth it. Now for my garden, I cannot get it to winter over at all. LOL
ReplyDeleteFrances
I guess I am trilling my r's this morning. HA
ReplyDeleteF
Good morning all!
ReplyDeleteKanak, Thanks! Do you grow it in India?
Frances, Trilling rrrrs is fine with me so early in the morning:) Semi is a good gardener just like her Mom, but she surely has the right weather to winter it over versus Mom. Thanks for the tip on it being late to emerge in the spring. I hope it survives but I have rooted cuttings if it doesn't. I just love it!
Good Morning All,
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone has a lovely day. Tina I love this plant. I like red in the garden so I must see if I can have one of these beauties next yr. I'm glad you let us know how big she can get as I would hate to put her in the wrong place. I wonder if she might winter over here. That would be great, to have a beauty such as her all yr.
So that's what that plant is! I see it all over in the landscaping of the stores, so cool it smells and has the flavor of pineapple! Pineapple actually reduced swelling if eaten!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful choice, it is really shining in your garden and I love the red bloom spikes.
ReplyDeleteI was so charmed by the things I had read and seen about Pineapple Sage that I bought this guy. He is planted in high shade and is just now blooming. Isn't it cool that he is culinary as well as ornamental! This is the first season, so I will see if he sets seeds or over winters.
ReplyDeleteGail
My pineapple sage was about to bloom when we left for vacation last week. The hummingbirds had already left. Does yours bloom in time to feed the hummingbirds? Cameron
ReplyDeleteI plan to search again in the spring for some already started plants. I'm afraid growing from seed would make them so late here that the frost would beat the blooms. I have a perfect spot if I can find some.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
I am always surprised by a new member of the sage family I haven't seen before. This one is certainly striking; I can see why you are so thrilled with it. But just when I was going to add it to my "wish list," you tell me it doesn't grow beyond zone 6. Darn! Or could I grow it as an annual?
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful red plant and so tall too! I had no idea it would get that tall. The hummers will love it as much as you Tina! You have so many fun smelly plants in your garden!
ReplyDeleteI recently picked up a Wild Thing Sage and it has a Cherry-Pink color. The hummers were on it a couple of days ago. I will show that on a posting soon as I captured it on film...
I threw mine out because I didn't realize it was a late bloomer and thought it a poor performer. It started blooming where I dumped it. So I rescued it. Live and learn. :)
ReplyDeleteDonna
Pretty plant with good and interesting info.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice for POM. Have you seen 'Golden Delicious', it has yellow foliage with the same bright red flowers. Not to be promoting myself, but I posted a pick of it on Sat. if you would like a look.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a wonderful red, Tina? I grew it and annual in Illinois, but actually seeing flowers was hit-or-miss. I've read that short days trigger the budding, and sometimes fall days would make the plant bud just in time for a hard freeze.
ReplyDeleteFor the 9 years we've been in Texas it's lived over for 2 out of 3 winters but it didn't appreciate this summer and is blooming on spindly stalks. Last year it could have been my POM, too!
A couple of times the winter was mild and this Salvia kept enough top growth to bloom in late spring for the hummingbirds.
Whether your Salvia lives over or not - it's lovely now!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
What a lovely fall blooming Salvia. Anything that attracts hummingbirds deserves a spot in the garden. Great pick for plant of the month for October. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a ?. This is my first time reading your blog, actually this is not the first time, but I just started like last month. What is your Tiger Garden.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading you blog I was hopping and praying that it would be hardy in my zone 5b, but my hopes were dashed...Oh well I will look into it for next year!
~Zach
Every year I faithfully buy pineapple sage, as I love it beyond most plants for its delightful scent. But each year, though I place it mostly in the shade, it dwindles and dies in the hot East Texas summer.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
The Organic Gardener,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by to say hello. I am Skeeter one of Tina’s partners in crime. She is out and about today and I will be posting the next few days so I will answer your question on her Tiger Garden. This is a play on letters or names, being half Tina’s name (Ti) and half her hubby’s name Roger (ger). They combine the letters to form the name Tiger. Hence, Tiger Gardens…
Skeeter, You answered Zach's question PERFECTLY! Please, everyone forgive me as I will be out of the net for a while and Skeeter (my partner in crime:) is filling for me. I will be back soon. SKEETER THANKS!
ReplyDelete