• Photo of Salvia greggii (Salvia greggiis)

Plant Profile: Salvia greggii

Taxonomy: Salvia greggii

Names

Autumn Sage, Red Chihuahuan Sage, Texas Sage

  • Photo of Salvia greggii (Salvia greggiis)

Phonetic Spelling:SAL-vee-uh GREG-ee-eye

Genus:Salvia

Species:greggii

Family:

This is a small, herbaceous perennial that exhibits characteristics of a somewhat woody sub-shrub. Various cultivars showcase a range of flower colors, including shades of red, coral, and some that are mixed with white. While it thrives in full sunlight, it can also endure afternoon shade in areas that experience intense summer heat. The plant prefers well-drained soil but can adapt to rocky conditions. Notably, the 'Wild Thing' variety is said to possess superior winter hardiness compared to other species. Propagation can be achieved through cuttings, and this plant shows a slight tolerance to salt.

The genus name, Salvia, is derived from the Latin term salveo, which translates to 'save' or 'heal.' The species name, Greggi, pays tribute to Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), a botanist and explorer who first identified the plant during his travels in Texas.

For further details on Salvia, please refer to additional resources.

Salvia greggii Feature Summary

Salvia greggii Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#edible plant
#native perennial
#salt tolerant
#cpp
#spreading
#deer resistant
#native garden
#clumping
#rocky soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#HS302
#stormwater demo garden orange co

Similar Plants

Salvia greggii is often confused with:

Salvia greggii Feature Summary

Attributes
south-central and west Texas south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico, mostly on rocky slopes.
Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is seldom damaged by deer.
Leaves can be used fresh or dried for seasonings and teas, and the flowers are edible.
Perennial
Attracts Pollinators
Flowers
Flowers are tube-shaped and two-lipped (smaller upper and larger lower lip) and about one inch long, appearing in terminal spikes.
Pink
White
Red/Burgundy
Fragrant
Showy
Edible
Long Bloom Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
Tubular
Lipped
< 1 inch
Stem
Square stems are woody and very brittle.
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Native Plant
Arching
Spreading
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Shallow Rocky
Fruit
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Border
Hedge
Mass Planting
Naturalized Area
Slope/Bank
Butterflies
Pollinators
Hummingbirds

Salvia greggii Attributes

Salvia greggii: Country Or Region Of Origin

Texas

Salvia greggii: Distribution

south-central and west Texas south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico, mostly on rocky slopes.

Salvia greggii: Wildlife Value

Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is seldom damaged by deer.

Salvia greggii: Edibility

Leaves can be used fresh or dried for seasonings and teas, and the flowers are edible.

Salvia greggii: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Salvia greggii: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Salvia greggii: Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Salvia greggii Flowers

Salvia greggii: Flower Description

Flowers are tube-shaped and two-lipped (smaller upper and larger lower lip) and about one inch long, appearing in terminal spikes.

Salvia greggii: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Salvia greggii: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Salvia greggii: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Salvia greggii: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Salvia greggii: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Salvia greggii: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Salvia greggii Stem

Salvia greggii: Stem Description

Square stems are woody and very brittle.

Salvia greggii: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Salvia greggii: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Salvia greggii Whole Plant Traits

Salvia greggii: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Salvia greggii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Salvia greggii: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Salvia greggii: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Salvia greggii: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Salvia greggii Cultural Conditions

Salvia greggii: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Salvia greggii: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Salvia greggii: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Salvia greggii: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Salvia greggii: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Salvia greggii: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Salvia greggii Fruit

Salvia greggii: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Salvia greggii Leaves

Salvia greggii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Salvia greggii: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Salvia greggii: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Salvia greggii: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Salvia greggii: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Salvia greggii: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Salvia greggii: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Salvia greggii: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Salvia greggii: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Salvia greggii: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Salvia greggii Landscape

Salvia greggii: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Salvia greggii: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Salvia greggii: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Salvia greggii: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Salvia greggii: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees