Painted sage, Annual clary, Clary sage, Annual clary sage, Pink Sunday clary sage, Pink Sunday painted sage, salvia viridis ‘Pink Sunday’, salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’
Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ is the kind of annual that makes you look like you planned your garden on purpose. From summer (and often continuing into fall), it stacks itself with bold, petal-like carmine-pink bracts that hold their color for weeks. The true flowers are small and tucked inside, but the bracts are the “wow” layer – richly veined, papery, and surprisingly long-lasting.
If you want hot-weather color that is easy to grow, looks great in photos, and doubles as a fresh or dried cut flower, this annual sage delivers. ‘Pink Sunday’ grows in multi-branched clumps, adds a clean vertical accent to mixed beds, and brings steady garden traffic from pollinators – especially bees and butterflies, and often hummingbirds too. Give it sun, well-drained soil, and a reasonable watering rhythm while it settles in, and it rewards you with a long season of rosy color that reads from across the garden.
Summary: Showy annual sage grown for its carmine-pink bracts that color up in summer and often hold well into fall. Forms a bushy, branched clump that adds vertical structure and easy “pink impact” to mixed plantings.
Use: Excellent for beds, borders, mass plantings, containers, and cutting gardens.
Highlight: Long-lasting bracts + strong branching – looks great in the garden and in a vase (fresh or dried).
Note: Best in full sun and soil with good drainage. Often ignored by deer and rabbits.
| Botanical Name | Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ (often sold as Salvia viridis) |
|---|---|
| Family | Mint family (Lamiaceae) |
| Common Names | Annual Sage, Painted Sage, Horminum Sage, (often called) Clary Sage |
| Native Range | Mediterranean region (species origin) |
| Plant Type and Habit | Annual with an upright, bushy, strongly branched habit; grown for colorful bracts |
| Hardiness (approx. USDA) | Tender annual (often grown as a reseeding annual in mild climates) |
| Height | 12-24 in. (30-60 cm), often up to 2 ft. (60 cm) |
| Spread | 10-12 in. (25-30 cm), about 1 ft. (30 cm) is typical |
| Spacing | 9-12 in. (23-30 cm) |
| Sun and Exposure | Best in full sun; tolerates light shade |
| Soil | Prefers humus-rich, well-drained soil; adapts to average soils if drainage is good |
| Seasonal Interest | Showy bracts and bloom display in summer, often continuing into fall |
| Flower – Bract Color | Rich carmine-pink bracts (true flowers are small and secondary) |
| Foliage Color | Mid-green, slightly hairy leaves with a mild sage-like fragrance when brushed |
| Fragrance | Aromatic foliage (lightly fragrant) |
| Drought Tolerant | Yes (once established; prefers deep, spaced watering) |
| Heat Tolerant | Yes (handles summer heat well; best in full sun with good drainage) |
| Humidity Tolerant | Moderate (does well with sun + airflow; avoid wet foliage and crowded spacing) |
| Attracts | Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds |
| Deer and Rabbits | Often ignored by deer and rabbits |
| Toxicity | Primarily ornamental; avoid ingestion and use standard garden caution |
| Invasive Status | Not typically considered invasive in gardens |
Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ (often listed as Salvia viridis) is an annual sage grown for its showy, long-lasting pink bracts. Think of bracts as colorful “flags” that look like petals but last far longer than most annual blooms. In ‘Pink Sunday’, those bracts are a warm carmine to rosy pink with noticeable veining, stacked in neat whorls along upright stems. The overall look is crisp, vertical, and very “garden designer friendly,” whether your style is cottage, Mediterranean, or modern.
Because it checks a lot of summer-garden boxes without acting high-maintenance:
‘Pink Sunday’ shows its best color from summer to fall. In the garden it reads as a long run of pink flower spikes, but up close you will see the secret: the bracts do the visual heavy lifting. Because bracts hold their color well, the plant looks “in bloom” for a long stretch, especially with a bit of deadheading and plenty of sun.
This annual sage grows in a bushy, multi-branched clump, typically reaching about 12-24 inches tall (often near 2 ft in good conditions) and about 10-12 inches wide. Leaves are mid-green, slightly hairy, and lightly aromatic when brushed. The branching is part of the charm: instead of one skinny stem, you get multiple upright stems that look full and intentional.
‘Pink Sunday’ is usually grown as a warm-season annual. In mild climates or in the right spot, it may self-sow modestly. If you like that natural, meadow-ish effect, leave a few spikes to set seed near the end of the season. If you prefer strict control, deadhead more consistently and remove spent stems before seed drops.
Like many salvias, ‘Pink Sunday’ is a magnet for garden activity. Expect visits from pollinators – especially bees and butterflies, and often hummingbirds too. Plant it where those vertical spikes are easy to spot, and your late-summer garden usually feels more alive.
Many gardeners report that it tends to be ignored by rabbits and is often considered deer-resistant. Aromatic foliage and slightly fuzzy leaves can make it less appealing. Still, if you garden in a high-pressure browsing zone, protect young plants until they establish and start pushing tougher growth.
This plant is primarily ornamental. Avoid ingestion and use standard garden caution around pets and children.
‘Pink Sunday’ is generally well-behaved in gardens and not commonly considered invasive. If it self-sows, it is usually easy to edit by pulling seedlings where you do not want them.
A little goes a long way. Mix compost into beds or use a gentle, balanced feed in containers. Skip heavy nitrogen. The goal is a sturdy, blooming plant, not a leafy green blob.
This annual sage is generally pest-free. In most sunny, well-drained garden settings, pests are rarely a major issue.
This sage can be susceptible to a few diseases, especially when conditions are damp, crowded, or poorly drained. The good news: prevention is mostly about sun, spacing, and well-drained soil.
Easy pairing formulas:
For sun-loving, water-wise companion ideas and planting inspiration, these guides can help:
Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ shows its best color from summer to fall. The small true flowers are secondary, while the carmine-pink bracts provide the long-lasting display.
Full sun produces the strongest stems, best branching, and the richest bract color. Light shade is tolerated, but bract color intensity and density may be reduced.
It typically grows about 12-24 inches tall (30-60 cm) and about 10-12 inches wide (25-30 cm), forming a bushy, multi-branched clump with upright spikes.
It is often ignored by deer and rabbits, especially once established, but no plant is completely deer-proof when browsing pressure is high.
Yes. Start seeds indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost for earlier color, or direct sow outdoors after frost. Deadhead for more spikes, or let a few stems set seed if you want self-sowing.
Updated: January 2026 • Reviewed by Gardenia Editors
| Hardiness |
3 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 12 |
| Plant Type | Annuals |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Common names | Sage |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spread | 10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm) |
| Spacing | 9" - 12" (23cm - 30cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
| Hardiness |
3 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 12 |
| Plant Type | Annuals |
| Plant Family | Lamiaceae |
| Genus | Salvia |
| Common names | Sage |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spread | 10" - 1' (25cm - 30cm) |
| Spacing | 9" - 12" (23cm - 30cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Deer, Drought |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses | Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
How many Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ (Annual Sage) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Salvia horminum ‘Pink Sunday’ (Annual Sage) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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