Salvia Species, Elegant Sage, Pineapple Sage

Salviaelegans

Family
Lamiaceae (lay-mee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Salvia (SAL-vee-uh)
Species
elegans (ELL-eh-ganz)
Synonym
Salvia camertonii
Salvia longiflora
Salvia microculis
Salvia punicea
Salvia rutilans
Spacing
36-48 in. (90-120 cm)
Hardiness
24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Sun Exposure
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Danger
Full Sun
Bloom Color
N/A
Bloom Time
Pink
Red
Foliage
Mid Spring
Late Fall/Early Winter
Other Details
Other details
Herbaceous
Shiny/Glossy
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
From softwood cuttings
Soil pH requirements
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Seed does not store well; sow as soon as possible
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Patent Information
Foliage Color
Bloom Characteristics
Water Requirements
Herbs
Tropicals and Tender Perennials
Where to Grow
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Auburn, Alabama

Dadeville, Alabama

Huntsville, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama

Prattville, Alabama

Trinity, Alabama

Vincent, Alabama

Gold Canyon, Arizona

Hereford, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Alameda, California

Berkeley, California(2 reports)

Brea, California

Cameron Park, California

Chico, California

Clayton, California

Clovis, California

Elk Grove, California

Encinitas, California

Eureka, California(2 reports)

Fairfield, California

HOOPA, California

Hemet, California

Knights Landing, California

Lake Arrowhead, California

Lakeside, California

Lompoc, California

Los Angeles, California

Miranda, California

Mountain View, California

Nevada City, California

Palo Alto, California

Sacramento, California

Salinas, California

San Diego, California

San Francisco, California(3 reports)

Santa Clara, California

Shingle Springs, California

Vista, California(9 reports)

Walnut Creek, California

West Covina, California

Washington, District of Columbia

Alford, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Clearwater, Florida

Delray Beach, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida(2 reports)

Keystone Heights, Florida

Lecanto, Florida

Niceville, Florida

Ocoee, Florida

Old Town, Florida

Oviedo, Florida

Palm Bay, Florida

Panama City, Florida

Pensacola, Florida(2 reports)

Quincy, Florida

Riverview, Florida

Sarasota, Florida

Sebring, Florida

Trenton, Florida

West Palm Beach, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Augusta, Georgia

Blackshear, Georgia

Coolidge, Georgia

Covington, Georgia

Douglas, Georgia

Douglasville, Georgia

Ellijay, Georgia

Guyton, Georgia

Hazlehurst, Georgia

Marietta, Georgia

Roswell, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

Snellville, Georgia

Suwanee, Georgia

Woodstock, Georgia

Kihei, Hawaii

Viola, Illinois

Greenville, Indiana

North Vernon, Indiana

Shawnee Mission, Kansas

Barbourville, Kentucky

Ewing, Kentucky

Ft Mitchell, Kentucky

Hebron, Kentucky

Ball, Louisiana

Baton Rouge, Louisiana(2 reports)

Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Covington, Louisiana

Franklin, Louisiana(2 reports)

Gonzales, Louisiana

Independence, Louisiana

Lafayette, Louisiana(2 reports)

Mandeville, Louisiana

New Iberia, Louisiana

Paulina, Louisiana

Zachary, Louisiana

Baltimore, Maryland

Crofton, Maryland

Millersville, Maryland

Pikesville, Maryland

Medford, Massachusetts

Somerville, Massachusetts

Redford, Michigan

Walled Lake, Michigan

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Florence, Mississippi

Leakesville, Mississippi

Maben, Mississippi

Madison, Mississippi

Mathiston, Mississippi

Poplarville, Mississippi

Scooba, Mississippi

Raymore, Missouri

Kalispell, Montana

Henderson, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Pahrump, Nevada

Reno, Nevada

Auburn, New Hampshire

Greenfield, New Hampshire

Nashua, New Hampshire

Annandale, New Jersey

Barnegat, New Jersey

Bayville, New Jersey

Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Elephant Butte, New Mexico

Rodeo, New Mexico

Bridgehampton, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Croton On Hudson, New York

Crown Point, New York

East Syracuse, New York

Manorville, New York

Rochester, New York

Syracuse, New York

Cary, North Carolina

Charlotte, North Carolina

Durham, North Carolina(2 reports)

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Fayetteville, North Carolina(2 reports)

Greensboro, North Carolina

Jacksonville, North Carolina

Kure Beach, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Reidsville, North Carolina

Taylorsville, North Carolina

Wilmington, North Carolina

Delaware, Ohio

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Perkins, Oklahoma

Roseburg, Oregon

West Linn, Oregon

Wilsonville, Oregon

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

Chapin, South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Conway, South Carolina(2 reports)

Ladys Island, South Carolina

Moncks Corner, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Sumter, South Carolina

Hendersonville, Tennessee

Johnson City, Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee(2 reports)

Memphis, Tennessee

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Thompsons Station, Tennessee

Abilene, Texas

Arlington, Texas(2 reports)

Austin, Texas

Boerne, Texas

Brazoria, Texas

Cedar Hill, Texas

Copperas Cove, Texas

Dallas, Texas(2 reports)

Elgin, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas(3 reports)

Grand Prairie, Texas

Hemphill, Texas

Houston, Texas(2 reports)

Kilgore, Texas

Lampasas, Texas

Mc Kinney, Texas

Mcallen, Texas

Mexia, Texas

Mont Belvieu, Texas

Oakhurst, Texas

Pflugerville, Texas

Port Neches, Texas

Red Oak, Texas

Round Rock, Texas

San Antonio, Texas(5 reports)

Spicewood, Texas

Spring, Texas

Sugar Land, Texas

Tyler, Texas

Waco, Texas

Weatherford, Texas

South Jordan, Utah

Alexandria, Virginia

Charlottesville, Virginia

Fishersville, Virginia

Leesburg, Virginia

Newport News, Virginia

Ruther Glen, Virginia

Sterling, Virginia

Suffolk, Virginia

Winchester, Virginia(2 reports)

Bremerton, Washington

Kalama, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Volga, West Virginia

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Racine, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

62
positives
8
neutrals
4
negatives
Sort By:
Sort By:
H
Watermill, NY | May 2019 | negative

When I bought this plant the tag said it was a hummingbird favorite & that it was a summer bloomer, so I planted it in my hummingbird gar...Read More

B
Salina, KS | April 2017 | positive

planted in 2016 right next to the house on the east side. grew to be about 4ft tall. Bloomed from the end of september till freeze in no...Read More

R
Pikesville, MD (Zone 7a) | September 2015 | positive

Believe it or not, when in Greenfield NH (Zone 5) mine died back in winter, but sprang back in spring. The secret must have been the rais...Read More

B
Douglasville, GA | September 2015 | positive

My favorite plant of 2015. A vigorous growing beautiful plant and super easy to make clones. Beautiful red flowers and are showing right ...Read More

N
N
Phoenix, AZ (Zone 9a) | April 2014 | positive

In Phoenix, this plant grows very well and far exceeded our expectations. The foliage always stays a deep green and blooms throughout th...Read More

S
San Diego, CA | August 2013 | positive

Here in San Diego I have struggled with this plant. It didn't seem to like our cool wet winters. I moved a plant that was struggling to a...Read More

P
Palm Beach Gardens, FL | July 2013 | positive

Have this plant in my pollinator garden and i can tell is beautiful !

L
Durham, NC | April 2013 | positive

I live in zone 7b, but obviously my pineapple sage didn't realize that it shouldn't grow in my zone. It established itself pretty quick...Read More

R
Jacksonville, FL | November 2012 | positive

I started all of my pineapple sages from 1 gallon pots. Two I started in May and they bloomed for a few weeks right after I put them in t...Read More

X
Redding, CA | November 2011 | negative

Beautiful plant, but of the three I planted, two of them died and the third only started looking healthy in July and only got one bloom o...Read More

P
Moss Point, MS | July 2011 | neutral

My pineapple sage is going thru it's third summer here in my yard. Sadly for me, Iv've had to beg it to not die. After

...Read More

O
(Zone 6b) | June 2011 | positive

I love the smell of Pineapple Sage! I get beautiful flowers later in the summer that give the garden a dash of bright red color. This p...Read More

S
Aurora, CO (Zone 5b) | January 2011 | positive

This was my first year growing Pineapple Sage. I bought a small starter plant in early June 2010 from a local garden center and planted i...Read More

N
Roswell, GA (Zone 7b) | June 2009 | positive

Very easy to grow and transplant. Grows like weed. Beautiful foliage, and red flowers in late summer.

D
Johnson City, TN | May 2009 | positive

I grow this as an annual in my Zone 6 area of East Tennessee. This is one of my all-time favorite herbs with which to cook. I use it in...Read More

T
Winter Haven, FL | November 2008 | positive

Grew this plant as an annual in Rapids City, IL this is the first year in FL, it grew about 3 foot in part shade, flowered from Sept and ...Read More

S
S
Somerville, MA (Zone 6b) | October 2008 | positive

This has been my first year trying pineapple sage in my cold-winter, xeriscaped, windy garden. It's grown quite well, getting fairly tal...Read More

A
Ft Mitchell, KY (Zone 6a) | September 2008 | positive

Last year I planted two very small plants that grew to aprox. 3 ft., and they flowered from late spring all the way through fall. The...Read More

F
Trinity, AL | June 2008 | positive

This plant has been enjoying southern exposure, by the deck for the past three years. The soil was enriched with a good fertilizer based...Read More

G
| March 2008 | negative

I just got a Pineapple Sage out here in Korea... Unfortunately, it has started to display speckled leaves There are brown / black spots o...Read More

I
I
Arlington, TX | January 2008 | positive

I have grown this for years here in Arlington, Texas, for the fragrance and brilliant red autumn flowers. Here it must usually be grown a...Read More

W
Nashua, NH | September 2007 | positive

I´m new to growing Herbs, not doing too badly for a newbie. One of my absolute favorites in my Herb Garden is my Pineapple Sage. I LOV...Read More

P
Fern Park, FL (Zone 9b) | August 2007 | negative

I just replanted mine in a bigger pot. I thought I was doing everything right, but days after I repotted, the leaves started turning brow...Read More

B
Los Angeles, CA | July 2007 | neutral

I am surprised by the postings that say this plant is drought-resistant. I bought it through eBay because the seller also said that. Ho...Read More

T
Durango, CO | July 2007 | positive

I have grown one of these in a big pot every summer now for the past 3 or 4 years. It has come to be one of my regular favorites. In SE...Read More

G
Covington, GA (Zone 7b) | June 2007 | neutral

Love this plant but I lose every one of them due to some insect that invades the hollow stems. Small white bug, looks sort of like an ant...Read More

C
Reno, NV (Zone 6a) | June 2007 | neutral

This is a great plant for its smell and foliage. It smells and tastes like pineapple ! Great plant; I'm not sure about its hardiness, but...Read More

S
Vancouver, WA (Zone 8a) | May 2007 | positive

I love how this plant smells! It is a bit delicate, however. Last fall, just as it was starting to bloom we had a cold snap where it dr...Read More

P
Poplarville, MS (Zone 8b) | May 2007 | positive

I love Pineapple Sage! It is one of the first things to show green in spring here and grows beautifully all summer. By the time it blooms...Read More

D
D
Concord, NC (Zone 7b) | April 2007 | positive

This is the third year this plant has come back in my garden. I guess it's true that plants can't read zone maps as I'm in zone 7b and i...Read More

J
San Francisco, CA (Zone 10a) | April 2007 | positive

Pineapple sage blooms all year long in my backyard here in San Francisco. I have spread it by simply sticking cuttings into the ground......Read More

V
Crown Point, NY (Zone 4b) | April 2007 | positive

I grew Pineapple sage as an annual, and kept it two years by growing cuttings indoors during the winter. It's a wonderful, fast-growing b...Read More

P
Lake Arrowhead, CA (Zone 8a) | December 2006 | positive

I have two groupings of three plants each in different areas of my garden. One group has part shade exposure, the other has full sun (mo...Read More

R
Minneapolis, MN | December 2006 | positive

I planted a couple this year in May in our sage patch (Minneapolis zone 4 + with urban heat bubble microclimate.). It is very aromatic g...Read More

M
Hebron, KY | November 2006 | positive

I love Pineapple Sage, but it's not hardy here, have to plant it every year. Love the flowers and the scent of the leaves. Have to star...Read More

W
Medford, MA | November 2006 | positive

We live in Massachusetts, z6a-b. We bought the plant as a little thing, at a garden center because the leaves were so fragrant. And it ...Read More

P
Kernersville, NC (Zone 8a) | October 2006 | positive

I love my Pineapple Sage here in Fayetteville, NC. I have started it from little shoots around the base of the plant. I have three in m...Read More

L
Woodlawn, VA | October 2006 | positive

I'm smitten. I got one off the "nearly dead" clearance table and plunked it in the ground just to see what would happen. It was mixed i...Read More

P
P
Winchester, VA (Zone 6a) | September 2006 | positive

I grew pineapple sage in my zone 6a/b. I planted it near my house foundation, slightly protected by a lilac. It died back but popped ri...Read More

L
Tallahassee, FL | September 2006 | positive

I bought this from a nursery as a small plant in the late spring. It is HUGE now and more of a bush than not! It hasn't bloomed yet but...Read More

L
NE Medina Co., TX (Zone 8a) | August 2006 | neutral

Lovely plant but requires more watering than I give my garden. Constantly wilted in hot weather.

C
Sterling, VA (Zone 6b) | June 2006 | positive

I love this plant. I planted it a few years ago and it grew nicely in full sun. One fall day I looked out and I was pleasantly surprized ...Read More

S
Roma, TX (Zone 9b) | May 2006 | positive

I live in deep south Texas where its hot most of the year and for Spring I got 7 little pots of Red Salvia and I can say they are floweri...Read More

L
Near Lake Erie, NW, PA (Zone 5a) | May 2006 | neutral

This is an annual in my part of the world, but I still like to grow it. It flowers late in the summer for me. I like to just sniff the cr...Read More

M
Mandeville, LA | March 2006 | positive

In the late summer and fall, into early winter or the first good frost, one cannot have enough pineapple sage to take care of the passing...Read More

S
S
Clearwater, FL (Zone 9b) | February 2006 | positive

I no sooner got it in the ground with organic compost and some peat hummus than it was starting to flower. it is February 20 here where I...Read More

C
Lompoc, CA (Zone 10a) | December 2005 | positive

I love this sage! Its very aromatic and i love it better than the other sage plants. To me it was hard to find and when i found it, it wa...Read More

K
Nevada City, CA | November 2005 | positive

Beautiful late fall bloomer, with a profusion of bright red spikes at 2,700 feet near Nevada City, California. Has bloomed into December ...Read More

Z
Calvert County, MD (Zone 7a) | October 2005 | positive

Two thumbs up positive!! This plant did spectacular for me and what a surprise when I looked out my window and saw bright red blooms! I ...Read More

D
Reidsville, NC | October 2005 | positive

I've grown this plant at least five years and although I occasionally lose a plant in one location, others in different parts of the yard...Read More

G
Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) | May 2005 | positive

This plant grows as an annual here in my zone 5 garden and is very aromatic. It's leaves are great flavoring in tea or cooking. The flo...Read More

R
Marietta, GA | May 2005 | positive

I have the original plant bought over 3 yrs ago. I made cuttings that survived 2 winters and succesfully replanted in my garden.
...Read More

K
Leander, TX (Zone 8b) | May 2005 | positive

Pineapple sage is one of our favorite herbs in the garden. It has a vibrant green leaf and then sprouts a beautiful red flower. When you ...Read More

I
| May 2005 | positive

Great in the Japanese summer, heat brings out the smell nicely...

Z
Z
Jackson, MS (Zone 8b) | April 2005 | positive

Great plant here in central MS. I do not cut the stems over the winter and it has returned for 6 years....it grows to be a five+ foot s...Read More

C
Henderson, NV (Zone 9b) | March 2005 | positive

I just love the smell of this herb. Just a little rub on the leaves will produce the sweet pineapple scent. I like it in teas and other...Read More

P
(Zone 8b) | January 2005 | positive

I love the colour of the flower of this plant and I love the fact that it tolerates dry soils. Tough and hardy. Like most Salvias. pokerboy.

N
Boca Raton, FL (Zone 10a) | October 2004 | positive

A very beautiful flowering tall shrub hardy from zone 7a and 7b southward. One of the most popularily known and grown plant in the South ...Read More

K
K
(Zone 9a) | October 2004 | positive

Love the smell of it. The stems can be brittle and often break in strong winds. In some winters it has no problems with frosts, but in c...Read More

B
Prosperity, SC (Zone 7b) | October 2004 | positive

This was my first year with this plant and I just love it. It was about 1 foot tall and 1 branch when I purchased it from Parks in the l...Read More

W
Marcus Hook, PA | August 2004 | positive

Has grown well in compact clay soil that has poor drainage. Smells great!

L
Houston, TX | June 2004 | neutral

I tried this indoors originally, but it began to look very sickly, despite getting enough light. It was turning brown and wilting and I ...Read More

P
Savannah, GA (Zone 8b) | May 2004 | positive

this plant has come back after dying to the ground thru the winter. It is very full, about three or four feet wide and tall. It has spr...Read More

B
Bossier City, LA (Zone 8a) | May 2004 | positive

I have loved this plant since the autumn it turned into a "burning bush" in a back bed. For some reason, it has never survived the winte...Read More

J
J
Toledo, OH | May 2004 | positive

I've had pineapple sage growing in my garden for several years. I have it planted in full sun and cut it back every fall and give it a b...Read More

A
| April 2004 | positive

In zone 10 this plant flowers with us from mid-Autumn all through Winter until I cut it back in Spring. The bright scarlet flowers are re...Read More

S
Old Town, FL | November 2003 | positive

My pineapple sage grew quite well through our cool and rainy Northcentral Florida, zone 8b, Summer this year, and is now gloriously in bl...Read More

C
Auburn, NH | November 2003 | positive

Although an annual here in z5b, Pineapple Sage is a lovely and dependable addition to the butterfly and hummingbird garden. Sadly, had t...Read More

X
X
Sebring, FL (Zone 9b) | August 2003 | positive

I grow lots of this plant. It is easy to propagate from cuttings or by division of its own self-rooting offshoots. It overwinters for m...Read More

K
Raleigh, NC (Zone 8a) | August 2003 | positive

Pineapple sage is an October showstopper here in Raleigh, NC (Zone 7b/8a). Beautiful, fragrant foliage throughout the growing season to ...Read More

L
Mcallen, TX (Zone 8a) | June 2003 | positive

Hummingbirds smother this plant with attention when they discover it in bloom.

W
Seward, AK (Zone 3b) | October 2002 | positive

Here in my USDA Zone 3 climate, I raise Salvia elegans as an annual, but it's a favorite of mine. I usually try to winter it over ...Read More

J
J
| June 2002 | positive

Rub a leaf, then inhale the authentic smell of pineapples! Of all the aromatic plants this one must surely be the best. Fresh leaves can...Read More

T
T
Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) | September 2001 | neutral

Common name refers to the scent of the foliage when crushed or bruised. Grown as a woody shrub in Zones 10-11, herbaceous perennial in Z...Read More

Featured
Syrphid Fly
(Eristalis arbustorum)
Common Fiscal
(Lanius collaris)
Featured
Syrphid Fly
(Eristalis arbustorum)
Common Fiscal
(Lanius collaris)