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Do Salvias need full sun? Read on to find out.
Salvias are popular garden plants because they bloom for a long time and do well in hot, dry conditions.
They offer an incredible variety of scents, flowers, plant habits, and colors.
Salvias have brightly colored flowers, square stems, and attractive, often fragrant, foliage.
They attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators.
Most species are incredibly easy to care for. Plus, the wide variety of strains to choose from allows you to choose a plant based on the condition of your garden.
The care regimen for salvia is relatively simple. Adequate sun, water, and fertile, well-drained soil are all most strains need to thrive.
Salvias are ideal for a coastal garden and are often a key plant in a dry garden.
They also grow very well in pots, making them long-lasting patio displays.
All types of salvias thrive in a sunny spot.
They need well-drained soil.
If you are growing in heavy clay you will need to improve the soil before planting.
All salvias are likely to die in waterlogged soil in winter.
There are some varieties like Salvia patens or roemeriana that tolerate partial or full shade.
This plant does not like to be crowded and needs good air circulation.
Check their mature size when planting and space them accordingly.
Salvia will grow in most soil types as long as it is well drained.
Virtually all salvias need full sun.
Most strains need 8 hours of full sun per day to grow and thrive.
At least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day is usually enough to keep these plants happy, but most species prefer a full day of sun.
Because these flowers grow in so many different environments, from Asian forests to California coastal areas, they are considered adaptable plants.
Certain Salvia cultivars do well in partial shade, but most need direct sunlight to grow and reach their full potential.
All you need to know about the amount of sunlight for all kinds of salvias are right here.
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Do Salvias Need Full Sun? (How Many Hours Of Sun Do Salvias Need?)
Salvias need 8 hours of full sun each day.
Six to eight hours of direct sunlight is usually sufficient.
When growing strains that tolerate partial shade, aim for 3 to 4 hours of full sun in the morning and dappled shade in the afternoon.
They may get fewer flowers if they get less than 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Give sage shade in the afternoon if the sun is strong at that time or temperatures are very high.
As with many plants, when the afternoon sun is particularly harsh, especially during the hottest time of summer, plan on shading your sage in the afternoon.
However, sage plants are fairly hardy and drought tolerant, so don’t worry if you give them too much sun.
Salvias that don’t get enough sun can grow tall and scrawny and develop an excessive amount of foliage but not many flowers.
If there is not enough sun, rubbery textures or drooping stems may develop.
Fallen sage can be placed for support, but they need full sun to recover.
The less sun they get, the more pronounced the fall problem will be.
If your Salvias have gone limp you can stake them for support but they will need some sun to grow back on their own.
Most sage plants do not grow well in the shade.
One of the biggest dangers of trying to grow perennial sage plants in the shade is sagging stems.
In most cases, when fully deprived of full sun, the stems quickly become sticky and eventually bend over completely, ruining the appearance of the plants and causing premature bud drop.
Leggy leaves can occur when sage is grown in the shade.
Some species of sage can also become very long-legged if grown in the shade.
Makino salvias are the only ones that can grow in full shade, but all other varieties should get at least some full sun to prevent them from drooping and dying prematurely.
Can Salvias Thrive In Indirect Sunlight?
Most Salvia varieties can grow in indirect sunlight, although most species prefer full sun.
However, you may get fewer blooms if your sage plants don’t get full sun.
Salvias will not die or wither in the indirect sun as long as they are exposed to adequate bright light during the growing season.
Strains like cedar sage do indeed thrive in indirect light, but they need a full day of bright, indirect sun to flower properly.
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Can Salvias Get Too Much Sun?
Salvias can get too much sun, although this is fairly rare.
Excessive sun exposure is evidenced by the complete wilting of sage plants and brown or yellow spots on the leaves.
Soil that is too dry can inhibit sage growth.
Salvias can get too much sun.
Complete wilting and yellow or brown spots on the foliage are signs of sunburn.
Excessive sun can dry out the soil and stunt sage growth.
Luckily, rescuing sage that has been overexposed to the sun is easy.
Once there is some shade, preferably afternoon shade, they usually come back to life quickly.
However, if you allow Salvias to become sunburned for an extended period, they will have a much harder time regaining their health.
Final Thoughts
Most sage plants require full sun.
Most species of sage prefer full sun and well-drained soil, but some do well in partial shade.
Once established, most Salvia species are fairly drought tolerant and require little maintenance.
Excess water and fertilizer can increase fungal disease problems for sage plants.
Plant sage in well-drained soil.
If you have clay soil, grow them in pots and containers.
These plants enjoy a lot of sunlight, so make sure they are in full sun or tilted towards the light.
Most sage varieties prefer slightly acidic soil.
Sage varieties should get at least 6 hours of sun per day.
Salvias are adaptable and grow in many different environments.
Certain varieties do well in partial shade.
Most need full sun to grow and reach their full potential.
If grown in indirect sunlight, a full day of light is recommended.
