Friendship Sage, Amistad Sage, Amistad Salvia, salvia guaranitica ‘Amistad’, Salvia ‘Amistad’
Salvia ‘Amistad’ – also called Friendship Sage – is the plant you add when you want your garden to feel instantly more alive. From early summer straight through frost, it sends up tall stems packed with velvety, rich royal-purple flowers held in nearly black calyces. The color is deep, dramatic, and surprisingly versatile – it reads bold in modern plantings, romantic in cottage borders, and downright luxurious in containers.
But the real superpower of Salvia ‘Amistad’ is its nonstop performance. This is a long-blooming salvia that keeps producing flower spikes when many summer perennials start taking breaks. And those blooms are not just pretty – they are a pollinator party, drawing in butterflies and especially hummingbirds, with bees often joining in too. Add the aromatic, glossy green foliage and the upright, bushy habit, and you get a plant that looks intentional from June to the first cold snap.
Summary: Award-winning, long-blooming Friendship Sage with large royal-purple flowers and near-black calyces, blooming from early summer to frost.
Use: Excellent for beds, borders, patio containers, and pollinator gardens.
Highlight: Hummingbird magnet + months of blooms with aromatic, glossy foliage.
Note: A tender perennial in most regions – hardy in warmer climates, grown as an annual where winters are cold.
| Botanical Name | Salvia ‘Amistad’ |
|---|---|
| Family | Mint family (Lamiaceae) |
| Common Names | Friendship Sage, Amistad Salvia, Ornamental Sage |
| Native Range | Garden hybrid (ornamental selection) |
| Plant Type and Habit | Tender perennial with an upright, bushy habit; fast-growing and floriferous |
| Hardiness (approx. USDA) | Hardy in zones 8-11; often grown as an annual in cooler zones. |
| Height | 3-5 ft. (90-150 cm) |
| Spread | 4-6 ft. (120-180 cm) |
| Spacing | 4-6 ft. (120-180 cm) for airflow and full shape |
| Sun and Exposure | Best in full sun; appreciates afternoon shade in very hot climates |
| Soil | Performs best in average, well-drained soil with medium moisture; avoid soggy sites |
| Bloom Time | Blooms from early summer until frost (often continuously) |
| Flower Color | Large royal-purple flowers with dark calyces for extra drama |
| Foliage Color | Glossy bright green leaves; aromatic when brushed |
| Fragrance | Aromatic foliage (pleasantly sage-like) |
| Drought Tolerant | Yes (once established) |
| Heat Tolerant | Yes – handles summer heat well; appreciates afternoon shade in very hot climates |
| Humidity Tolerant | Moderate – best with sun + airflow; avoid crowded, still, damp conditions |
| Attracts | Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds |
| Deer | Often considered deer resistant |
| Award | Recipient of the Award of Garden Merit (Royal Horticultural Society) |
| Toxicity | Primarily ornamental; avoid ingestion and use standard garden caution |
| Invasive Status | Not typically considered invasive in gardens |
Salvia ‘Amistad‘ is a showy, upright, tender perennial salvia grown for its extra-long blooming season and unforgettable color. The blooms are a saturated royal purple, set off by nearly black calyces that make each flower look even richer. The stems rise above glossy green, aromatic foliage, creating a clean vertical silhouette that reads well from across the garden.
Because it solves a common garden problem: you want color for months, not just a quick burst.
Salvia ‘Amistad’ is famous for blooming constantly from early summer to frost. The flowers form on upright spikes and keep coming if you remove fading stems. In warm climates, it can feel like it never stops. In cooler zones, it still gives a long run of bloom right up until cold weather shuts the show down.
This salvia forms a bushy, upright perennial clump with slender, glossy leaves that are aromatic when touched. In good conditions it can reach 3-5 ft. tall and 4-6 ft. wide, so give it room to shine. The overall effect is lush but structured – a soft mound of green with vertical purple wands floating above.
‘Amistad’ is a tender perennial hardy in zones 8-11. In cooler zones, it is commonly grown as an annual or overwintered by taking cuttings or protecting the plant indoors. If you garden where winters are borderline, a sheltered location and dry winter conditions can make a big difference.
Plant Salvia ‘Amistad’ and you will notice more garden visitors. The tubular purple flowers are a natural fit for hummingbirds, while nectar also attracts butterflies and bees. If you want the garden to feel active and animated, this plant helps.
Like many aromatic sages, Salvia ‘Amistad’ is often considered deer-resistant, and it may be less appealing to rabbits as well. Still, in high-pressure areas, young plants can be sampled. Protect new growth until the plant is established and producing tougher stems.
This plant is primarily ornamental. Avoid ingestion and use standard garden caution around pets and children.
Salvia ‘Amistad’ is generally well-behaved in gardens and not commonly considered invasive.
Keep feeding simple. Compost at planting time and a light, balanced fertilizer in containers is usually plenty. If you overfeed with nitrogen, the plant may produce more leaves and fewer flowers – and you are growing ‘Amistad’ for those purple blooms.
Salvia ‘Amistad’ is fairly disease-free and low maintenance, but a few pests can show up, especially when plants are stressed or crowded.
Most issues trace back to moisture and airflow. If conditions are wet, crowded, or poorly drained, problems become more likely.
Easy pairing formulas:
Salvia ‘Amistad’ typically blooms from early summer until frost. With regular deadheading, it can flower almost continuously through the warm season.
Full sun produces the most flowers and the strongest stems. In very hot climates, afternoon shade can help reduce stress while still supporting good bloom.
It typically grows 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 4-6 ft. wide (120-180 cm), forming a bushy, upright clump with tall flowering stems.
It is a tender perennial, generally hardy in zones 8-11. In cooler zones, it is often grown as an annual or overwintered in a protected location or from cuttings.
Yes. The tubular purple flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds, and they also draw butterflies and bees, making it a strong pollinator-garden plant.
Updated: January 2026 • Reviewed by Gardenia Editors
| Hardiness |
8 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Common names | Sage |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spacing | 72" (180cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
| Hardiness |
8 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Annuals, Perennials |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Common names | Sage |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm) |
| Spread | 4' - 6' (120cm - 180cm) |
| Spacing | 72" (180cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Tolerance | Drought, Deer |
| Attracts | Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
How many Salvia ‘Amistad’ (Friendship Sage) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Salvia ‘Amistad’ (Friendship Sage) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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