
Furman’s Red, Salvia Greggi (Autumn Sage)
Salvia is an easy care plant in general which makes them a favorite amongst gardeners. They are also very beautiful and prolific bloomers. Here are a few great reasons to try Furman’s Red, Salvia Greggi:
1) It’s a Pop of Color
Red is impactful! I love the color red, to me it’s a neutral in our color pallet that ranges in use from elegant to whimsical. Red is the color of passion, love and vitality. Hummingbirds are a huge fan of the color red and the Furman’s Red Salvia is no exception.
2) They’re Deer Resistant
We’re not trying to plant a buffet. Salvia is a super hardy variety of plants that are deer resistant because of their herbaceous scent. They are also very low water once established which make them great perimeter plants to stave off nibbles by furry passers by.
3) Low Maintenance
We’ve got other stuff to do. In general, Saliva Greggi or Autumn Sage requires minimal effort to maintain and they’re beautiful planted in mass, as borders, or in pots. This evergreen shrub will be impactful in the landscape all year long and benefits from an occasional dead heading (removing the dead blooms and stem)to promote more flowers all summer. They also benefit from a hard prune every few years when they get woody, and they’re happy to repay you with fresh leaves and blooms!
4) Low Water
Every Drop Counts! As a native of Central Texas and hardiness zones 7 through 9, which means it is used to the amount of annual rainfall in our area. Furman’s Red and all native plants also attract and feed our local insects, bees and birds. As an added bonus, the repeat bloom cycle makes this a perfect plant for the low maintenance, xeriscape garden.
- Pink Salvia Greggi
- Salvia Greggi (White)
- Furmans Red Salvia
5) Salvia Can Take the Heat
They’re tough in the cold too! Salvia Greggi comes in an array of colors like white, coral, magenta, and most commonly, pink. Give them a try and see what a true champ they are in the Xeriscape garden. Plant them in full sun for best results and provide them room to reach 3 x 3 over time.
If you’d like more help finding Texas tough plants and trees for the hill country landscape, contact me at lisalapaso@gmail.com for information on an online (anywhere in zone 8) or in person (to a limited area) Educational Consultation or Landscape Design.
Happy Gardening!
Lisa LaPaso
”Saving the Planet One Yard at a Time”.