AT A GLANCE
Latin name: Salvia Greggii ‘Mesa’ series
Common name: Autumn sage
Flowers: Scarlet, purple, rose or azure throughout
summer
Foliage: Finely textured, deciduous
Mature height: 3 ft. tall by 3 ft. wide
Hardiness: Perennial to Zone 7
Soil: Well-drained
Exposure: Full sun
Water usage: Low
Sources: Mail order, internet, or local nurseries
Salvia greggii is one of the first plants that I ever knew by its
the full and correct Latin name. In my initial days in horticulture, I
was the “water-girl” at an all-organic nursery here in the DFW Metroplex
– one that loved its native plants. We propagated several different
varieties of S. greggii. It was the middle of August and I had
been watering for what seemed like days on end (a reality in August in
North Central Texas), when I dragged my hose across the gravel path to
water still more plants. I looked up to see a mass of butterflies
flocking with great excitement all around the salvia. Then I saw
hummingbirds, a sight that continued until temperatures started to drop.
It was then that I decided to enter the “field of my dreams.” I
discovered my first love of a plant that day -- Salvia greggii!
Over the years -- like most anything in our society -- things
advanced and “better” variations of this plant were hybridized and made
available to garden lovers. Many companies that produce plant material
took interest in this drought-tolerant butterfly and hummingbird
attractor. The new ‘Mesa’ series offers all colors that you would want
to display in a landscape. ‘Scarlet’ is a nice bright red, ‘Azure’ a
light purple with a white eye, ‘Purple’ a deep, pure purple, and ‘Rose’
a nice bright pink. All of these hybrids behave in the same manner. With
an average height and width of 3 feet, they are a great size for any
gardening situation. They do well in the ground or in containers as long
as there is good drainage. I have noticed that in our Dallas Arboretum
trial program this series does not tend to get as “woody” or as “leggy”
as older varieties have in the past. ‘Mesa’ has a nice compact habit and
is covered in blooms from spring until late fall.
There are very few pests or disease problems with the Salvia greggii
‘Mesa’ series. The few times I’ve seen it struggle have been when roots
stayed too moist, resulting in the death of the plant. Like most
salvias, this one loves full sun -- the more the better. I have found
over time that cutting plants back by a third after the heaviest bloom
allows them to be in top performance all season long. This perennial
hybrid has the tendency to stay evergreen in mild winters. Overwintering
this plant should not be a problem in most of Texas.
This hybrid is becoming increasingly available to retail consumers. I
suggest going to your favorite local nursery in the fall or winter and
asking them to order it for the spring. You may have to be patient and
wait, but it is definitely worth it. If you can’t find this particular
series, then I recommend any Salvia greggii; they are all great
plants.
In the end, there is nothing negative to say about ‘Mesa’. A
wonderful producer of flowers, spring though fall, this salvia will
prove a great attraction for sitting in your back yard, watching
butterflies and hummingbirds feasting on sweet nectar. And this variety
works well both in containers and in the ground! Salvia greggii
is a tough and drought-tolerant plant that is easy to maintain 12 months
out of the year. I truly believe ‘Mesa’ is the cure for any gardener’s
“black thumb.” Try one and discover that gardening in Texas really can
be easy with the r
ight
choice of plants.
About the author: Jenny Wegley is research and
greenhouse manager at the Dallas Arboretum. Visit
http://www.dallasplanttrials.org/ for more information on the
Arboretum’s plant trials.
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