Garden Sage
Salvia officinalis
Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 24 in tall and 12 to 16 in wide, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Fire-wise zone 1-2 perennial; ignitability rating 7.5/10.
On the CSFS firewise listlow to medium water24 in tall and 12 to 16 in wideXeric / water-wiseBorderline, CSU score 7.5/10: best kept out of the first 5 ftDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: "Salvia officinalis 001" by H. Zell is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
- Photo 2: "Salvia officinalis jfg1" by Jeffdelonge at French Wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
- Photo 3: Kurt Stüber [1]
- Photo 4: "Salvia officinalis Closeup" by Elaine with Grey Cats from California, USA is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.
- Photo 5: Kurt Stüber [1], Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 6: (c) Todd Boland, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 24 in tall and 12 to 16 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~11 to 16 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- early summer
- Bloom color
- blue
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Borderline, CSU score 7.5/10: best kept out of the first 5 ft
Planting & establishment
Deep-water first season to establish, then minimal water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Garden Sage good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Garden Sage is a well-suited perennial for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Garden Sage get?
- It matures to about 24 in tall and 12 to 16 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Garden Sage?
- Space Garden Sage about 11 in apart for a faster, fuller bed, or up to 16 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Garden Sage hardy on the Front Range?
- Garden Sage is hardy in USDA 4 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Garden Sage need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- Is Garden Sage native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Garden Sage deer-resistant?
- Garden Sage is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Garden Sage a good firewise plant near the house?
- Garden Sage is rated 7.5 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable. CSU recommends scores of 8 to 10 within 30 feet of the house, so this is a borderline pick, and our read is to keep it out of the first 5 feet. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), 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.
- How long does Garden Sage bloom?
- Garden Sage blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
