How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Pineapple Sage

Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) is an attractive perennial flower that hails from Central America. It is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and has fragrant leaves and stems and a robust, shrubby growth habit. 

This variety really stands out in a garden setting because of its spectacular red flowers. Most people in the United States will be able to grow it as an annual, although in warmer climates, you can enjoy it as a long-lived perennial flower that will grace your garden with its charming presence year after year. 

There are plenty of reasons you will love growing pineapple sage. Not only does it look great and smell wonderful, it’s a favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Plus, it’s super easy to grow and very low maintenance. 

This versatile plant will be right at home in any garden plot with full sun and rich, moist soil. Use it in your cottage garden or pollinator-friendly landscape. Mix it into your herb garden with other sage varieties. It’s also a great choice for growing in containers and raised beds.

Now, let’s dig in and get to know this wonderfully versatile plant and how you can grow it in your garden!

Plant Natural History

Pineapple sage is native to the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. In its natural habitat, it is a shrubby perennial of open woodlands and woodland edges. It is an important wildlife plant, providing nectar for a variety of species of hummingbirds and insect pollinators. 

As with many other varieties of sage, it has become a popular horticulture plant. It is often used as an ornamental flower and an attractive herb. The leaves are edible and can be brewed into flavorful teas or used in traditional medicines. 

Characteristics

Pineapple sage is a perennial plant in mild, frost-free climates. It is commonly grown as an annual in climates with winter frosts. Light winter frosts will kill the top portion of the plant but the plants can resprout from the roots the following spring. When grown as a perennial, it will spread by root rhizomes to form dense colonies. 

This plant develops a series of three to four-foot tall upright stems. Each stem is lined with pairs of opposite, simple, green leaves. The leaf margins are very finely toothed and the leaves are covered with fine velvety hairs. Leaves and stems are fragrant when crushed and have a citrus-like scent with a hint of mint. 

The flowers bloom in late summer and fall. The flowers are produced at the ends of the leafy stems as flowering spikes several inches long. Whorls of bright scarlet red, narrow, tubular flowers open for a few weeks, starting with the flowers at the lower end of the inflorescence and working their way up to the top. 

Due to its popularity as a garden plant, there are now several cultivars readily available in the horticulture market. You’ll find variations in size, leaf color, and flower color. All are tender perennials, however, and sensitive to cold weather. 

Propagation

This plant is very easy to propagate by division and stem cutting. Seed propagation isn’t always recommended because cultivars won’t grow true to the parent type. 

Seed

You can grow this sage from seed, but only the native parent species will grow true to type. You’ll want to start your seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last spring frost. This will give the seedlings enough time to grow before being transplanted outdoors.

Since these plants can take a while to bloom, you’ll want to give them a head start indoors rather than directly sowing them outdoors. Start the seeds in clean, moist soil in a warm location. Keep the soil moist, and the seeds should germinate within two weeks. 

Division

Mature plants growing as perennials will spread each year to form larger and larger clusters. If yours is growing into a big bushy cluster with several stems emerging from the ground, this is a good opportunity to divide it. 

Dig out the cluster and use a sharp spade to divide the roots into two or more clumps. Each clump will need its own connected roots and stems. You can replant one clump in the same spot and transplant the other clump or clumps to new locations. Always water your transplanted plants well immediately after transplanting and for several days after to help them recover from transplant shock. 

Cuttings

It is very easy to propagate with stem cuttings. Taking cuttings is a great way to keep your plants coming back year after year, even if you live in a cooler climate. Take a few stem cuttings in early fall and root them over the winter to transplant the following spring. 

All you need is to clip several inches of healthy stem with leaves on it. Strip off the lower set of leaves and place the stem in clean water. Within a few weeks, your cutting will start to show fresh white roots. You can keep cuttings growing in water all winter until they’re ready to be placed outdoors in the spring. You can also transfer them to individual pots anytime after they start to develop some healthy-looking roots.

Transplanting

If you’re growing it as an annual, set your plants out in early spring, as soon as all danger of frost has passed. Prepare your pot, raised bed, or garden plot by removing any weeds and competing vegetation from the area and loosening the soil. Add soil amendments and enrichments, as needed, to enhance soil quality and boost soil nutrient content.

Dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than the pot in which your pineapple sage is currently growing. Carefully remove the plant from its pot and immediately transfer it into the hole. Then, backfill around the roots with fresh soil and tamp down the soil around the plant. Finally, water your newly transplanted plant well to help it settle in. Keep your plant well-watered for the first week or so after transplanting. 

How to Grow

This plant is very easy to grow. As long as you have a sunny location with moist soil, you should have no trouble with this easy-going and fast-growing flower.

Sunlight

Provide a location in full sun. Any location with at least six hours of direct sunlight is ideal. Plants will grow in light afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates.

Water

These plants prefer moist soil. It’s okay if your soil dries between waterings, but it should generally hold some regular moisture. If your area receives regular summer rainfall, you won’t need to do any supplemental watering. If you don’t get at least one rainfall per week, watch for the leaves to wilt and curl, a sure sign that your plants need some extra watering.

Soil

The soil should be high in organic matter and nutrient-rich. Pineapple sage doesn’t like poor-quality soil. You can mix some organic compost or enriched potting or garden soil into the pot or ground for an added boost. Your soil should also be well drained as these plants don’t like sitting in wet soil.

Climate and Temperature

Pineapple sage is native to Central America and prefers a warm climate. Use the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to determine your zone. It is a perennial in zones 8 – 10.

If you are in a zone cooler than 8, you’ll most likely be growing this plant as an annual. You can also bring potted plants indoors for the winter, as long as you have enough space and a sunny window.

Fertilizing

As long as your soil is organically rich, and especially if you’re growing pineapple sage as an annual, you won’t need to do any mid-season fertilizing. Container-grown plants should be repotted when they outgrow their containers, and the fresh soil you use will contain enough nutrients that your plants won’t need any extra fertilizers. In-ground perennials would benefit from an annual top dressing of nutrient-rich compost to keep them growing strong. 

Maintenance

Other than regular watering and occasional pruning to remove dead stems, this plant is very low maintenance. Keep an eye on your plants during the growing season to make sure they’re getting enough water.

As with any garden plot, remove any weeds from around your plants to reduce competition, prevent the spread of weeds, and keep your garden looking great. Prune back dead leaves and stems during the winter.

Mulch

Mulching around your plants isn’t necessary, but it can help preserve soil moisture, especially in dry climates. Use a layer of wood chips, compost, or other natural, biodegradable mulch. Spread a two or three-inch layer of mulch around your flower beds to suppress weeds and protect the plant roots from drying out.

Garden Design

Pineapple sage can be used in a variety of garden settings. For those with limited space, the easiest way to enjoy it is in a container garden. These plants are well suited to life in containers and raised beds, especially if you’re growing them as annuals. It also makes an appealing fragrant-leaved plant for your herb garden or scented garden.

In warmer climates, use pineapple sage in your perennial garden, where it will thrive and spread year after year. Make sure to give it plenty of space because mature plants will spread into sizable clusters. This is an excellent choice for a hummingbird and pollinator-friendly landscape. Since it blooms late in the season, you will attract plenty of late-season pollinators and help keep them happy until the first frost. 

Use compact varieties for a border or rock garden. Use larger varieties as accent plants for the center or your flower garden. Even when grown as an annual, it grows quickly. These robust plants will easily become large and bushy in a single season, so give them plenty of space where they won’t crowd out small, slow-growing neighbors.

Varieties

‘Tangerine,’ Salvia elegans ‘Tangerine’

‘Tangerine’ is a lovely cultivar with a compact habit. ‘Tangerine’ grows only 12 – 18 inches tall, and its more compact size makes it well suited for container gardening. ‘Tangerine’ has bright red flowers, and the leaves have a tantalizing citrusy scent. 

‘Golden Delicious,’ Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious’ 

The ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivar has stand-out foliage. The yellow-green leaves compliment your garden’s greenery by adding some colorful variety. The spectacular red flowers are always a winner in any garden setting.

‘Frieda Dixon,’ Salvia elegans ‘Frieda Dixon’

Look out for this dazzling cultivar and its salmon-pink flowers! ‘Frieda Dixon’ will wow you with numerous spikes of uniquely dark reddish-pink flowers that bloom from summer through fall. The bright green foliage won’t disappoint either, with its uniform color and citrus scent.

‘Scarlet Pineapple,’ Salvia elegans ‘Scarlet Pineapple’ 

‘Scarlet Pineapple’ grows up to three feet tall in attractive bushy clusters. The bright red flowers are large, showy, and abundant. These plants will bloom from summer until the last frost, providing plenty of nectar for migrating and resident hummingbirds.  

‘Honey Melon,’ Salvia elegans ‘Honey Melon’ 

This cultivar is relatively compact. ‘Honey Melon’ grows one to two feet tall and equally as wide. The scarlet red flowers enjoy a long blooming period for mid to late-season gardening. ‘Honey Melon’ blooms earlier than many other cultivars and is a good choice for more northern gardens with a shorter growing season.

Wildlife Value

This plant is a pollinator magnet, attracting plenty of butterflies and bees. If you are looking for a hummingbird-friendly plant, it is one of the best. Hummingbirds adore the long, trumpet-shaped, scarlet red flowers and will keep coming back for more.

Deer and rabbits generally don’t bother plants with fragrant foliage and the citrus smell of the pineapple sage keeps browsing herbivores away. 

Common Problems

You’re unlikely to be bothered by pests or diseases. It’s always a good idea to monitor your plants regularly, however. You may occasionally see powdery mildew or spider mites on your plants, so keep an eye out for these common problems. 

Powdery Mildew

Powdery mildew is a fungal infection common in moist, humid environments. You’ll see it as gray or white powdery-looking patches on the leaves. In mild cases, powdery mildew is simply a nuisance but in severe cases, the leaves will become brown and dry and fall off.

You can discourage powdery mildew growth by keeping your plants thinned to improve air circulation and avoid unnecessary water on the leaves. 

Spider Mites

Spider mites are a common garden pest. These tiny mites are so small that you may not see them as individuals but rather after they start to cause damage. Signs of spider mites include a dirty or dusty look to your plants as the mites leave behind fine webbing on the undersides of leaves. You may also notice that the leaves develop a speckled look as the mites suck juices from the leaves. 

If you catch an infestation early, try spraying the leaves regularly with jets of water to dislodge the mites. Make your yard a welcoming habitat for beneficial insects that will prey upon the mites. Regular garden insecticides aren’t very effective against spider mites, so natural biological controls may be your best option.