{"product_id":"margaret-arnold-baby-sage-salvia-microphylla-margaret-arnold","title":"Margaret Arnold Baby Sage - Salvia microphylla 'Margaret Arnold'","description":"\u003cp\u003eMargaret Arnold Baby Sage (\u003cem\u003eSalvia microphylla\u003c\/em\u003e '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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDeep pink flowers late in the season.\u003c\/strong\u003e The bloom peaks in late summer and autumn, in colours that range from deep pink to strawberry red.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTough once settled.\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought and frost tolerant once established, it carries on through weather that defeats softer perennials.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHappy in heat and humidity.\u003c\/strong\u003e It enjoys sunshine and warmth, including humid summers where many sages sulk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn airy, open habit.\u003c\/strong\u003e Small leaves and slender stems let the flowers float, so it mixes easily with grasses and other perennials.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReflowers after a clip.\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut it over after the first flush and it often bounces back with more flowers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMixed beds and cottage borders.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 1m apart in a drift. At that spacing the clumps meet in the second season and the airy stems weave together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e The late season flowers feed bees and butterflies when many garden plants have gone over.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHot, sunny positions.\u003c\/strong\u003e It copes with reflected heat from a wall or driveway and suits the dry side of a garden once it has settled in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Margaret Arnold Baby Sage in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/salvia\"\u003eBrowse our salvia range\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/drought-tolerant-plants\"\u003eMore drought tolerant plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bee-and-butterfly-plants\"\u003ePlants for bees and butterflies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/blog\/perennial-plants-for-a-cottage-garden\"\u003ePerennial plants for a cottage garden\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen does Margaret Arnold flower?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMainly in late summer and autumn, with small deep pink flowers along the stems. A clip after the first flush often brings more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it frost tolerant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, once established. Give young plants a mulch in their first winter and they should shrug off the cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow big does it get?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 1 and 1.5m high and wide, with an open habit. Plant it at 1m spacing and it will form a loose mass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790876213567,"sku":"SAL-MIC-MARGAR-tube","price":15.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/margaret-arnold-baby-sage-salvia-microphylla-margaret-arnold.jpg?v=1792210937","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/margaret-arnold-baby-sage-salvia-microphylla-margaret-arnold","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}