Purple sage
I have a sage plant which is just about to flower and my question is about how to keep it looking like it is now as I like the shape and size. This is its 2nd summer and so far I've done nothing with it.
I'll wait until it's flowered but then what, cut it down to the ground, trim it keeping the shape or leave it until another time of year?
Also, is purple sage invasive like ordinary sage or will it stay in one place?
Last edited: 02 June 2017 09:06:46
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I cut my sage hard back in the spring and that keeps it in a nice mound shape ... but cutting it back every spring means that you don't get the flowers as it flowers on the previous year's growth.
To get flowers every year and still keep it trimmed I've found that cutting it back in mid summer after the first flush of flowers works, so that it gets a chance to make some more growth which will flower the following year.
However, doing that means that you do spoil its appearance for a few weeks in the middle of the summer.
I wouldn't call it invasive, but like ordinary culinary sage it will root where branches touch the ground ... keep an eye on that and it's not a problem. However, I let it make a few extra plants each year and then cut them off and pot them up, so I've got a continual supply of replacements.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
That's brilliant Dove, thank you. I'll cut it back later I think. I don't mind it looking straggly as plenty of other things to look at by then. Maybe I'll deliberately root a couple of stems as I wouldn't mind having a few more to dot about the place
Thank you for the warning philippa, I'll take cuttings when I cut it back just in case.