Grandstand Purple Flowering Sage

Grandstand Purple Flowering Sage (Salvia splendens 'Grandstand Purple') is a compact, bushy salvia of 45cm to 60cm high and 30cm to 40cm wide, carrying masses of super deep purple flower spikes from spring right through to autumn. The dark colour gives a border weight and sets off pale and yellow neighbours. Bees and butterflies visit all season.

Why you'll love it

• Deep, saturated purple. The flower spikes are an intense deep purple that reads clearly even from across the garden.
• A long flowering season. Spikes open from spring right through to autumn on a plant that stays dense and bushy.
• Compact and tidy. At 45cm to 60cm high and 30cm to 40cm wide, it suits narrow beds, borders and pots.
• Good for pollinators. Bees and butterflies visit all season, so it earns its place in a wildlife planting.
• Quick to put on colour. It grows fast, and a sunny spot with regular watering gets it flowering freely.

Where it works best

Mixed beds and borders. Plant 30cm apart for a dense block of colour. Pair it with white, yellow or silver plants, which make the deep purple look richer.

Cottage gardens. It adds a dark, strong note to a soft planting of roses, daisies and herbs, and it keeps blooming when many cottage plants have finished.

Pots and tubs. A compact habit makes it a useful pot plant for steps, courtyards and patios. Use a light, free draining mix.

Growing Grandstand Purple Flowering Sage in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade in the garden, in light, free draining soil. It tolerates overnight frost once established, and young plants need protection from hard frost. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens as a lasting plant, and in cold districts it is best mulched or treated as a summer plant.

Soil. Light, free draining soil suits it best. On clay or compacted ground, add compost and coarse sand, or raise the bed.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring and boost it with seaweed solution during the summer heat.

Pruning. Cut back after flowering to encourage fresh growth and more flowers. A mulch over the roots in winter keeps the soil warm in cooler districts.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Grandstand Purple Flowering Sage as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tubes are the economical way to plant a border or a row of pots. Expect a small plant with a few shoots rather than a mass of flower, and allow it a few weeks of warm weather to bulk up and start producing spikes.

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 the salvia range
• More flowering plants
• How to create a cottage garden in Australia
• Plants that feed bees and butterflies

Common questions

When does it flower?

From spring right through to autumn. Cutting it back after flowering encourages fresh growth and more spikes.

How far apart should I plant it?

Plant 30cm apart in beds and borders. At that spacing the plants meet and form a dense drift of deep purple.

Does it need full sun?

Full sun to part shade suits it. More sun gives more flower, and the soil should be light and free draining.