Salvia Love And Wishes (Sage)

Salvia Love and Wishes – Long-Blooming Reddish-Purple Spikes, Dark Burgundy Bracts, And A Hummingbird Favorite From Late Spring To Frost

Salvia Love and Wishes is one of those “plant it once, enjoy it for months” kinds of salvias. From late spring to frost, it sends up elegant, upright spikes of bold reddish-purple flowers that glow against papery, dark burgundy bracts and deep, dusky stems. The effect is rich, dramatic, and surprisingly easy to work into real gardens – whether you’re building a pollinator border, refreshing a sunny patio container, or just looking for a dependable color maker that doesn’t demand constant attention.

If your goal is to create a garden that feels alive, this plant helps. The tubular blooms are a magnet for butterflies and hummingbirds, and the glossy, mid- to deep-green foliage stays handsome even when summer heat ramps up. Best of all, it’s naturally low-maintenance – no fussy pruning schedule required, and no deadheading marathon to keep it looking good.

Quick Facts – Salvia Love and Wishes

Summary: A fast-growing, upright tender perennial with showy spikes of reddish-purple tubular flowers emerging from dark burgundy bracts on dark stems, blooming from late spring to frost.
Use: Excellent for containers, borders, pollinator gardens, and mixed plantings.
Highlight: Extra-long bloom season, bold color contrast, and strong hummingbird appeal.
Note: Best in full sun and well-drained soil; commonly grown as an annual where winters are cold.

Botanical Name	Salvia Love and Wishes
Family	Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Common Names	Love and Wishes Salvia, Love and Wishes Sage, Ornamental Sage
Native Range	Garden origin (cultivar) – grown as an ornamental sage rather than a wild native range plant.
Plant Type and Habit	Tender perennial (often grown as an annual) – upright with a slightly open, airy habit
Hardiness (approx. USDA)	Hardy in USDA Zones 9-11; treat as an annual or overwinter indoors elsewhere
Height	3-4 ft (90-120 cm)
Spread	3 ft (90 cm)
Spacing	36-48 in. (90-120 cm) for good airflow and a full, upright clump
Sun and Exposure	Best in full sun; tolerates light shade in hot climates
Soil	Prefers average, medium-moisture, well-drained soil (drainage matters more than richness)
Seasonal Interest	Blooms from late spring to frost
Flower Color	Reddish-purple flowers with dark burgundy bracts and dark stems
Foliage	Mid- to deep-green, glossy leaves that keep a fresh look through the season
Fragrance	Aromatic foliage (typical salvia scent when brushed)
Drought Tolerant	Yes, once established.
Heat Tolerant	Yes – handles warm, sunny conditions well (water containers more often)
Nectar – Pollen	Yes – nectar-rich tubular blooms
Attracts	Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Deer	Generally deer resistant
Best Garden Uses	Beds and borders, patio and containers, pollinator plantings
Toxicity	Ornamental plant – avoid ingestion and use standard garden caution around pets and children
Invasive Status	Not typically considered invasive in gardens

Care – Quick

• Planting: Plant after frost in sun and well-drained soil; give room for its mature height and width.
• Water: Water regularly until established; then water deeply when the top couple inches dry (containers dry faster).
• Feeding: Light feeding supports bloom; avoid heavy nitrogen that pushes leaves over flowers.
• Pruning – Deadheading: No hard pruning required, but removing faded flower stems can prolong flowering and keep the plant tidy.
• Mulching: Mulch lightly to reduce evaporation; keep mulch off the crown.
• Propagation: Take cuttings in warm weather to overwinter or make backup plants.
• Winter: Perennial in warm zones; overwinter indoors or treat as annual elsewhere.

What Is Salvia Love and Wishes?

Description

This cultivar is best known for its striking contrast: reddish-purple flower spikes rising from papery, dark burgundy bracts on dark stems. From a distance, it reads as bold color; up close, it’s all texture – layered bracts, tubular blossoms, and a refined, vertical silhouette that makes borders look intentional rather than messy.

Growth Habit and Vigor

Salvia Love and Wishes grows quickly into an upright, slightly open plant that feels airy rather than stiff. Expect it to reach about 3 to 4 feet tall and around 3 feet wide under good conditions. That open habit is a design advantage: it lets light move through the plant, prevents it from looking like a solid block, and makes it easy to weave into mixed plantings.

Flowers and Bloom Time

Here’s where this salvia really earns its keep: it can bloom from late spring all the way to frost. The flower spikes keep forming, so the plant always looks like it’s in motion – fresh stems rising while older ones are still colorful. It does not require constant deadheading, but if you snip off faded spikes now and then, you can encourage even more flowering and keep the plant looking crisp.

Foliage and Fragrance

The foliage is part of the charm. Leaves are mid- to deep-green, glossy, and neatly shaped, creating a clean base for the dark stems and bright flower spikes. Like many sages, it has aromatic foliage when brushed – one of the reasons deer often pass it by.

Hardiness

Salvia Love and Wishes is a tender perennial best suited to USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, it’s commonly grown as an annual for its season-long bloom. If you fall in love with it and want to keep it year to year, taking a few cuttings before frost is a simple backup plan.

Landscape Uses

• Borders: Adds height and rich color without a rigid, formal look.
• Containers: A standout “thriller” for large pots on sunny patios.
• Pollinator gardens: A reliable nectar source throughout the warm season.
• Mixed beds: Easy to pair with grasses and sun-loving perennials.

Wildlife Value

If you garden for wildlife, this plant brings results. The tubular flowers offer nectar that hummingbirds seek out repeatedly, and it also draws butterflies and bees. In practical terms, it helps extend your garden’s pollinator season because it keeps blooming when many plants start to fade.

Deer Resistance

Thanks to aromatic foliage and a slightly textured, sage-like character, this plant is generally deer resistant. That said, “deer resistant” is not the same as “deer proof” – hungry deer can sample almost anything, especially during drought or in areas with high pressure.

Drought and Heat Tolerance

Once established, Salvia Love and Wishes is known for being heat tolerant and reasonably drought tolerant. In the ground, deep watering during extended dry spells keeps it flowering at full power. In containers, it will need more frequent watering – pots warm up fast and dry out quickly, especially during heat waves.

Toxicity

Salvia Love and Wishes is grown as an ornamental plant. It is not meant for eating. As a simple rule, avoid ingestion and use standard garden caution around pets and children, especially with any ornamental salvia.

Invasiveness

This cultivar is typically well-behaved in gardens. It grows as a clump, does not usually spread aggressively, and is not considered invasive in typical landscape settings. Any rare volunteer seedlings (if they appear) are easy to spot and remove.

Growing Conditions For Salvia Love and Wishes

Light

• Full sun: Best flowering, stronger stems, and the most vibrant color.
• Light shade: Helpful in very hot climates, especially during harsh afternoon sun – though too much shade can reduce bloom.

Soil

• Well-drained soil is essential: Poor drainage is the fastest way to stress a tender salvia.
• Average fertility: This plant does not need rich soil; overly rich conditions can produce lots of growth with fewer flowers.
• Container note: Use a high-quality potting mix and make sure the pot drains freely.

Planting and Spacing

• Plant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed.
• Give it space – around 36 inches is a good target for airflow and a full, upright shape.
• In containers, choose a pot that won’t tip easily (this plant gets tall), and avoid tiny pots that dry out constantly.

Maintenance

• Deadheading: Not required, but removing faded stems will prolong flowering and keep the plant looking neat.
• Pruning: No heavy pruning needed during the season. If it gets a little tired after extreme heat, a light trim can refresh growth.
• Feeding: A light, balanced fertilizer supports bloom; avoid high nitrogen fertilizers that push soft, leafy growth.

Propagation

To keep Salvia Love and Wishes true to type, propagate it by cuttings rather than seed. Named cultivars can vary when grown from seed, so cuttings are the most reliable way to preserve flower color, vigor, and habit.

• Softwood cuttings (best method): In late spring through summer, take 3-5 in. (8-12 cm) non-flowering shoots. Remove lower leaves, dip in rooting hormone (optional), and place in a free-draining mix. Keep warm, bright, and lightly moist until rooted.
• Overwintering strategy: Root a couple of cuttings before frost, grow them indoors in bright light, then replant outside after spring warms up.

Pests, Diseases, And Common Issues

Pests

Salvia Love and Wishes is generally trouble-free, especially in sunny, well-ventilated spots. During hot, dry stretches, you may see occasional aphids or spider mites on tender growth. Usually, a strong spray of water, better airflow, and consistent watering solves the issue.

Diseases

• Powdery mildew: More likely with crowding, shade, and poor airflow. Provide sun, spacing, and avoid late-day overhead watering.
• Root rot: Almost always linked to soggy soil or containers that don’t drain well.

Common Problems

• Reduced flowering: Most often caused by too much shade, drought stress, or overly rich soil.
• Flopping: Can happen in high-nitrogen soil or heavy feeding – more flowers come with leaner conditions.
• Mid-summer slowdown: In extreme heat, flowering may pause briefly, then rebound with water and cooler nights.

Design Ideas With Salvia Love and Wishes

In garden design, Salvia Love and Wishes shines as a vertical accent – a plant that adds lift, movement, and season-long color without swallowing the whole border. Its dark stems and burgundy bracts also act like built-in contrast, which makes nearby plants look more vibrant.

• Make it a “thriller” in containers: Use it as the tall focal point in a large pot, then underplant with mounding and trailing companions for a full, layered look from spring into fall.
• Build a pollinator runway: Repeat it every few feet in a sunny border so hummingbirds learn the route and return daily.
• Pair with airy textures: Combine with ornamental grasses or fine-textured perennials to echo the plant’s movement and keep the look light.
• Use contrast to your advantage: The burgundy bracts look especially striking next to silver foliage, lime-green leaves, or soft pastels.
• Design for the long season: Add early bloomers in front and late bloomers nearby – this salvia becomes the “through line” that keeps the garden colorful between peaks.
• Create rhythm, not a wall: Instead of one giant clump, plant in small groups and repeat. It reads as intentional and keeps the border dynamic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated: January 2026 – Reviewed by Gardenia Editors