Margaret Arnold Baby Sage

Margaret Arnold Baby Sage (Salvia microphylla 'Margaret Arnold') is a medium sized Mexican perennial with an open, airy habit and small leaves, growing 1 to 1.5m high and wide. It carries masses of small deep pink flowers in late summer and autumn, and it loves heat, humidity and sunshine. Once established it is drought and frost tolerant, a tough combination for a flowering sage.

Why you'll love it

• Deep pink flowers late in the season. The bloom peaks in late summer and autumn, in colours that range from deep pink to strawberry red.
• Tough once settled. Drought and frost tolerant once established, it carries on through weather that defeats softer perennials.
• Happy in heat and humidity. It enjoys sunshine and warmth, including humid summers where many sages sulk.
• An airy, open habit. Small leaves and slender stems let the flowers float, so it mixes easily with grasses and other perennials.
• Reflowers after a clip. Cut it over after the first flush and it often bounces back with more flowers.

Where it works best

Mixed beds and cottage borders. Plant 1m apart in a drift. At that spacing the clumps meet in the second season and the airy stems weave together.

Wildlife gardens. The late season flowers feed bees and butterflies when many garden plants have gone over.

Hot, sunny positions. It copes with reflected heat from a wall or driveway and suits the dry side of a garden once it has settled in.

Growing Margaret Arnold Baby Sage in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is frost tolerant once established. Young plants appreciate a layer of mulch over their first winter.

Soil. Rich soil gives the best growth, so work in compost before planting. It does not need perfect drainage, but it will not enjoy standing water.

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

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

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Margaret Arnold Baby Sage as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.

Plants travel upright and settle fast. Plant out soon after delivery, water in well and mulch the soil. The plant is small at first, and it fills out to its full size over a season or two.

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 our salvia range
• More drought tolerant plants
• Plants for bees and butterflies
• Perennial plants for a cottage garden

Common questions

When does Margaret Arnold flower?

Mainly in late summer and autumn, with small deep pink flowers along the stems. A clip after the first flush often brings more.

Is it frost tolerant?

Yes, once established. Give young plants a mulch in their first winter and they should shrug off the cold.

How big does it get?

Between 1 and 1.5m high and wide, with an open habit. Plant it at 1m spacing and it will form a loose mass.