Salvia 'Amistad'
Best vibrant bloomer for attracting pollinators to sunny garden spaces.
Salvia 'Amistad' is a new friendship sage that has traveled from Argentina to England and then the US, loved by all for its early, free-flowering nature and compact, bushy habit. Decorative shiny black calyces hold radiant purple trusses of bloom. Hummingbirds will zoom in to sip from these nectar-rich, arching tubular flowers. This plant is great for mass planting, containers, or as a specimen. It is deer resistant and attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. It blooms from summer to fall and is a tender perennial, hardy in zones 8-10.
$10.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
864
/ 3268
#864 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-60%
Below average
Shipped As
3.52.639.5
/ Pot: " h x " w ( fl oz)
Who it's for
- Gardeners desiring continuous color and visual interest for many months
- Eco-conscious gardeners wanting to support local wildlife and beneficial insects
- Busy gardeners or beginners seeking a robust, beautiful plant
Who should skip it
- Gardeners in colder zones expecting a perennial plant to return annually
- Gardeners with limited space or those preferring compact plant varieties
- Gardeners who prefer truly no-maintenance plants without any pruning tasks
Performance breakdown
Pollinator Attraction
A magnet for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies throughout the growing season.
Visual Impact
Striking black calyces and vibrant purple blooms create high-contrast garden drama.
Deer Resistance
Reliably deters browsing deer, making it a safe choice for rural landscapes.
Bloom Longevity
Provides consistent, free-flowering color from early summer well into the fall.
Maintenance Ease
Requires minimal feeding and basic spacing to prevent common fungal issues.
Versatility
Adapts beautifully to mass plantings, container gardening, or fresh floral arrangements.
Key Specs
Shipped As
Pot: 3.5" h x 2.63" w (9.5 fl oz)
Lifecycle
Annual; tender perennial
Perennial Hardiness Zone
8, 9, 10
Annual Hardiness
Half Hardy Annual
Mature Size
3.5-4' h x 3.5' w
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Rich, moist, well-drained
Season
Summer to fall
Features
- Early and free-flowering nature
- Compact, bushy habit
- Decorative shiny black calyces
- Radiant purple trusses of bloom
- Nectar-rich, arching tubular flowers
- Deer resistant
- Great cut flower
- RHS Award of Garden Merit Winner
What customers say
Customers consistently praise this salvia for its exceptional vigor and abundant, long lasting blooms that attract hummingbirds and other pollinators throughout the season. Gardeners appreciate its robust growth and reliable performance, making it an easy care choice for adding vibrant color and life to diverse garden settings. Many highlight its impressive stature and continuous flowering as key benefits, offering significant visual impact and enduring beauty with minimal effort. This plant is celebrated for its consistent quality and ease of integration into various landscapes.
Know before you buy
It depends on your climate. Salvia 'Amistad' is a tender perennial hardy in zones 8–10; if you live in a colder region, you should treat it as an annual or bring it indoors during the winter.
This is a vigorous grower that reaches a mature size of 3.5 to 4 feet in height and width. For the best results and to ensure proper air circulation, space your plants at least 3 feet apart.
Yes, it is an excellent choice for supporting local wildlife. The nectar-rich, tubular flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
It is relatively low-maintenance, requiring about an inch of water per week and well-drained soil. While it is a light feeder, applying a low-nitrogen organic fertilizer in midsummer can help boost flower production.
Absolutely. They make beautiful cut flowers, and for the longest vase life, you should harvest the stems when about half of the florets are open.
Powdery mildew is best managed through prevention. Ensure you provide adequate spacing between plants to encourage good air circulation, which keeps the foliage dry and healthy.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
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