Salvia Planting Guide

June

salvia this month

Whether you're sowing, transplanting, or harvesting, salvia needs the right timing. Check your zone below for exact dates.

Sun full sun

Water moderate

Days to harvest 70–90

Spacing 12″

How to water salvia
About an inch of water a week keeps salvia happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
Where to put salvia
salvia wants at least 6 hours of direct sun. Less than that and you'll get leggy plants with weak yields.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant salvia. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Your salvia planting calendar by county →

Salvia splendens is a tender perennial from Brazil grown as a warm-season annual throughout the US. Its vivid, upright flower spikes in brilliant red, purple, and coral are irresistible to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. One of the longest-blooming annuals in the landscape — plants bloom from early summer until hard frost with minimal deadheading required.

Salvia splendens · Flower · Lamiaceae family · 70–90 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting Fragrant

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Salvia is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Salvia Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Salvia?

Zone Compatibility for Salvia Zones 2a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 2a	Mar 21	—	Jun 13	Aug 22 – Oct 3
Zone 2b	Mar 13	—	Jun 5	Aug 14 – Oct 2
Zone 3a	Mar 6	—	May 29	Aug 7 – Sep 25
Zone 3b	Mar 1	—	May 24	Aug 2 – Sep 27
Zone 4a	Feb 25	—	May 20	Jul 29 – Sep 30
Zone 4b	Feb 27	—	May 8	Jul 17 – Sep 25
Zone 5a	Feb 21	—	May 2	Jul 11 – Oct 3
Zone 5b	Feb 14	—	Apr 25	Jul 4 – Oct 3
Zone 6a	Feb 6	—	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Oct 2
Zone 6b	Jan 30	—	Apr 3	Jun 12 – Sep 25
Zone 7a	Jan 28	—	Mar 25	Jun 3 – Sep 23
Zone 7b	Jan 21	—	Mar 18	May 27 – Sep 30
Zone 8a	Jan 11	—	Mar 1	May 10 – Sep 27
Zone 8b	Dec 31	—	Feb 11	Apr 22 – Sep 23
Zone 9a	Dec 16	—	Jan 20	Mar 31 – Sep 15
Zone 9b	Nov 30	—	Dec 28	Mar 8 – Sep 6
Zone 10a	Nov 6	—	Nov 20	Jan 29 – Aug 13
Zone 10b	Nov 6	—	Nov 13	Jan 22 – Aug 20
Zone 11a	Nov 6	—	Nov 6	Jan 15 – Aug 27
Zone 11b	Nov 6	—	Oct 30	Jan 8 – Sep 3

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Direct Sow shows "—" because Salvia benefits from being started indoors first, then transplanted after the last frost.

How to Plant Salvia

12"

Between Plants

18"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 2a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–90 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Lamiaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Lamiaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Salvia

Salvia matures in just 70–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Salvia

✅ Good Companions

Marigolds Petunias Zinnias Lobelia Basil

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Salvia

Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost; seeds need 65-70°F soil and light to germinate (surface-sow, do not cover). Transplant after last frost when soil has warmed. Salvia is frost-sensitive — even a light frost kills plants. Pinch spent spikes to encourage continued bloom. Tolerates heat and humidity well once established. In zones 9b-11b can be grown as a short-lived perennial.

Saving Salvia Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Salvia by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Salvia?

Salvia (Salvia splendens) takes 70 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Salvia grow in?

Salvia can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Salvia need?

Growing Salvia requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.