Salvia elegans
is grown for the fragrance of the leaves and they are often used in herbal tea.
Salvia elegans grows to 4-5 feet in
a warm or shaded location. Older shoots of the Pineapple sage turn woody and unproductive and should be
removed as the new shoots come on. The new growth is produced from underground
runners. The plant will eventually form a rather large clump.
Pineapple sage has been in
cultivation since the 1870's under the name of Salvia rutilans. It is native to the
mountains of central Mexico at elevations ranging from 6,000-9,000 feet. It has
performed well in protected locations with temperatures in the mid 20's and died to the
ground in exposed locations that were colder. Pineapple sage is a good
choice for attracting
hummingbirds to your garden. Several factors make Salvia elegans
an
excellent plant for hummingbirds, the long tubular red flowers, the long
flowering season. And they has likely been a Hummingbird
food source
further south.
Salvia elegans is an excellent choice for the hummingbird
garden as well as the butterfly
garden.
High resolution images
of Salvia elegans are available
