Meadow sage / wood sage
Salvia nemorosa
Meadow sage / wood sage (Salvia nemorosa) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 12–24 in tall and 12–24 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Front Range perennial-border staple. Dense purple flower spikes; deadheading prompts a second flush.
On the CSU listlow to medium water12–24 in tall and 12–24 in wideXeric / water-wiseDeer-resistant
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Salvia nemorosa
- Variety / cultivar
- 'May Night', 'Caradonna', 'Marcus'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 12–24 in tall and 12–24 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~17–24 in apart
- Growth habit
- Clumping
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Winter cover
- Bare in winter
- Bloom length
- Reblooms
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4–9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 1–3 (can be planted near the house)
- Bloom color
- purple, blue, pink
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer
- Pollinator value
- high
Things to know before you plant
- Spreads aggressivelySelf-seeds moderately; clumps expand slowly via underground roots
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Using Meadow sage / wood sage as a groundcover
Meadow sage / wood sage grows in tidy clumps. It fills in to a moderately dense cover. It dies back in winter, leaving the ground bare until spring.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply 1×/week first summer to establish. After establishment, water 1–2×/month during dry stretches.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Meadow sage / wood sage good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Meadow sage / wood sage is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- What should I know before planting Meadow sage / wood sage?
- The main things to know: Self-seeds moderately; clumps expand slowly via underground roots
- How big does Meadow sage / wood sage get?
- It matures to about 12–24 in tall and 12–24 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Meadow sage / wood sage?
- Space Meadow sage / wood sage about 17 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 24 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Meadow sage / wood sage hardy on the Front Range?
- Meadow sage / wood sage is hardy in USDA 4–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Meadow sage / wood sage need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Meadow sage / wood sage native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Meadow sage / wood sage deer-resistant?
- Meadow sage / wood sage is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Meadow sage / wood sage a good firewise plant near the house?
- Meadow sage / wood sage is a lower-fuel choice suitable in defensible-space zones 1–3, it can be planted near the house when kept well irrigated and maintained. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Can you walk on Meadow sage / wood sage?
- Meadow sage / wood sage isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Will Meadow sage / wood sage spread or stay put?
- Meadow sage / wood sage is clumping. Self-seeds moderately; clumps expand slowly via underground roots Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Meadow sage / wood sage stay green in winter?
- No, Meadow sage / wood sage dies back in winter and leaves the ground bare until it returns in spring.
- How long does Meadow sage / wood sage bloom?
- Meadow sage / wood sage reblooms through the season, especially if you deadhead spent flowers on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
