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When should I cut back my purple sage?

9 years ago

This is my first time growing sage and I picked up a purple cutting from a nursery. Its been doing really well since i planted it in my garden and its probably about ten inches tall now. Ive been reading that cutting it back will promote the bushiness but I just dont know when to do it. How big should i let it get before doing this?

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Comments (9)

jean001a
9 years ago
Where do you live?
GMOFREEGUY
Original Author
9 years ago
In northern california in the yuba sutter area. So im kind of in the valley in rice field territory
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up here in the great white north known as MI ... these are pruned for fall bloom .. since nothing else is blooming in sept/oct ... is that different the further south you go????? BTW.. you can root any cuttings in a glass of water ... every easily ... anyway ... all plants have one goal .. procreation ... once they bloom .. and once they set seed, they are done ... some/most can be deadheaded to prolong bloom ... but if it blooms in a few weeks.. no matter how much you deadhead ... it isnt going to be much of anything by fall .. so it comes down to you .. when do you want it to bloom ??? ken ps: let it bloom on its own schedule.. and buy some new ones for fall bloom .... what the heck ... lol
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Is it Too Late to Cut Back a Purple Sage?
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Comments (1)
It should survive, but you will loose a lot of the blooms that normallly come in a month or so with the summer rains. A mild prunning now would be OK, but I'd wait until fall if you wish to cut it back severely. Also I'd give it a good soaking for an hour or so and see if it won't catch up with the others. It may not have as good of a root system as the others for some reason. Unless they are being watered regularly they are fairly dormant this time of the year so as to survive the lack of rain. Hope this helps.
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@Polina: I live in MI and grow a lot of catts --- mainly minis. I have some I grow under fluorescent shoplights and others I have in front of my SE facing sliding glass doors with no supplemental lighting. I've bloomed them in both locals, so it "doable". Jane there is no reason you should hesitate saying "no". If I were in your shoes, I might say "Well, I can try attaching it to one of the trees outside but it will have to fend for itself -- I have no room indoors." I would not give up any of my indoor "real estate" except for close family or very good friends .... and even then there would be a limit. The only way those snowbirds would have me taking care of any of their plants would be if they paid me -- and paid well. Arrogantly presumptuous on their part. I'd say get them in spike, take them down to the local farmers' market and sell them. Then when the snowbirds return, tell them a cold front did them in. (Really could use a laughing devil emoticon right now.)
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If it was an apple I'd suggest you remove any growth from the rootstock. Make a clean cut.
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CA Kate z9
9 years ago
I live in the Central Valley and have found that it is wise to leave the pruning until the Salvias start sending out new growth in the spring. Prune back to new growth.
GMOFREEGUY
Original Author
9 years ago
Okay cool how big should I expect it to get overall? Its just in a 5 gallon pot right now but if its supposed to get really big Ill move it to something with more space in the spring
rich_dufresne
9 years ago
Purple sage can mean any of a number of Salvias. Which species and form is it?
Siir
9 years ago
Well, if it's happy with your temperature range, and it's a California native, it's most likely Salvia leucophylla.

If that's the case, then it's probably a good idea to tip it now so that the coming shrub is good and branched.

S. leucophylla often grows over 5 feet tall in as many years, but the Point Sal variety tends to remain about 3 feet by 3 feet. I recommend either a pretty big, draining pot or to put it in the ground.
GMOFREEGUY
Original Author
9 years ago
Its actually salvia officinalus. The leaves are a really bright purple and green
rich_dufresne
9 years ago
If you are gardening in a flood plain or on a hillside where runoff channels, a raised bed with drainage and some lime would be useful. Sages can do well in damp soil, but their roots must have air.

Mediterranean sages like S. officianalis like limy soils as well.
GMOFREEGUY
Original Author
9 years ago
Yeah I do live in a flood plain area but my house is elevated a lot from the street and we havent had any major flooding since ive lived here so it should be okay.

Cool sounds like im doing pretty good with it then. I got some really great soil thats nice for drainage and its nice and airy for it. And I had to had dylomite lime to the soil when I got it

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