Angel Wings Baby Sage

Angel Wings Baby Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Angel Wings') is a small, bushy, Australian-bred salvia, 50 to 80cm high and wide, covered in plentiful pale pink, skirt-shaped flowers from late spring until the first frosts. The tiny leaves carry a faint scent of blackcurrant. It is compact enough for pots and borders, and bees, butterflies and birds love it.

Why you'll love it

• Flowers for months. Pale pink blooms from late spring to the first frosts, with a second flush after a tidy-up clip at the end of summer.
• Bred in Australia. It was developed here, so it is made for our climates and gardens.
• Petite size. Neat leaves and flowers on a plant under a metre, ideal for pots and borders.
• Alive with wildlife. Birds, butterflies and bees visit the flowers through the warm months.
• Cold hardy. It is hardy to about -5C, so it handles most frosty gardens.

Where it works best

Cottage borders. Plant 60cm apart for a continuous band of pale pink through summer, in front of taller perennials.

Pots and containers. Compact enough for a large pot on a sunny patio.

Wildlife and kitchen gardens. Planted among herbs and vegetables it brings pollinators, and it mixes happily with other cottage-style flowers.

Growing Angel Wings Baby Sage in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It is cold hardy to about -5C, so it suits warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens. In dry climates it needs weekly watering. In frost, the soft top growth can burn but the plant reshoots.

Soil. Rich, well-drained soil. Mulch to hold moisture and keep the roots cool through summer.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks, and weekly in dry climates. Feed with slow release fertiliser in spring, and give an extra boost in the heat of summer with a seaweed tonic.

Pruning. Clip over after flowering to encourage fresh growth and perhaps a repeat flush. Cut it hard back in early spring.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Angel Wings Baby Sage as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly once it is in the ground. Tube plants are small but quick to grow in warm weather, so plant them into mulched, well-drained soil and water in.

The tube is supplied by our grower, so stock comes and goes. If it shows as sold out, the grower has none at the moment: press the notify button on the page and we email you the day it returns.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse salvias
• Bee and butterfly friendly plants
• Perennial plants for a cottage garden
• Plants that flower for months

Common questions

When does it flower?

From late spring until the first frosts. Clip it over at the end of summer and you get a second flush of blooms and bushier foliage once autumn cools.

How cold can it go?

It is cold hardy to about -5C once established. The soft top growth may be burnt in a hard frost, so clip it back hard in early spring.

Does it need rich soil?

It does best in rich, well-drained soil with mulch and regular water until established. In poor soil, dig in compost before planting.