fbpx

Plant Finder Tool

perennial

Friendship Sage

Salvia 'Amistad'

Add To My Wish List

 
Friendship Sage (Salvia 'Amistad') at Rainbow Gardens

Friendship Sage flowers

Friendship Sage flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Friendship Sage (Salvia 'Amistad') at Rainbow Gardens

Friendship Sage in bloom

Friendship Sage in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Friendship Sage (Salvia 'Amistad') at Rainbow Gardens

Friendship Sage flowers

Friendship Sage flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  5 feet

Spacing:  3 feet

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  7b

Other Names:  Meadow Clary, Meadow Sage

Description:

A distinct cultivar of salvia producing volumes of violet blooms on near-black spikes all season; a beautiful addition to borders or beds with its dense and bushy form; looks fantastic in containers

Ornamental Features

Friendship Sage has masses of beautiful spikes of violet flowers with black calyces rising above the foliage from early summer to mid fall, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive fragrant pointy 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

Friendship 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.

Friendship Sage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Friendship Sage will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 3 feet 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.

Friendship Sage is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Bark  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features

Disclaimer - This Plant Finder tool is an online resource representing many of the varieties that we carry over the course of the season, and is intended for informational purposes only. Inventory varies seasonally, so we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times - please contact the store directly for current availability. It does not include our entire selection of plants, so be sure to visit our store to see varieties that may not be represented on this list.