Plant This: Forsythia sage for fall flowers
The big-box stores are pushing mums and Christmas tree rosemary topiaries (too early!!). But branch out to your local nursery and you’ll find more interesting fall fare for your garden. Like forsythia sage (Salvia madrensis), one of my favorite late-blooming perennials here in central Texas.
A yellow-flowering salvia? This late in the season? Yes and yes! Named for its resemblance to spring-flowering forsythia shrub, Salvia madrensis hails from mountainous northern Mexico. Here in Austin, it requires shade and a little extra water in the hottest part of summer, or else it shows its displeasure by wilting. But mine does well in live oak shade with once-a-week irrigation, even in August, bouncing back from pouty wilting once it gets a drink.
Come late October, it sends up butter-yellow spires that bloom into mid-November if we don’t get an early freeze. I like its big, cat’s-tongue-textured leaves too.
I got mine as a passalong from my friend Lucinda Hutson. Here is her forsythia sage growing in front of her purple casita all decked out for Day of the Dead.
I planted mine next to shrubby boneset, or white mistflower (Ageratina havanensis), which blooms at the same time and also grows in live oak shade.
‘Sparkler’ sedge (Carex phyllocephala ‘Sparkler’) looks great with it too, planted at the front of the border.
Forsythia sage is hardy in zones 7b-10 and grows well throughout the South. Look for a red-stemmed cultivar called ‘Red Neck Girl’ at Plant Delights Nursery. Or see if a neighbor who’s growing it can give you a division next spring. And for anyone reading this in Austin, I just called Barton Springs Nursery, and they told me they have about a dozen for sale right this second.
Note: My Plant This posts are written primarily for gardeners in Central Texas. The plants I recommend are ones I’ve grown myself and have direct experience with. Check online forums for your region or local independent nurseries to see if a particular plant might work in your area.
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Digging Deeper
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All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I purchased this plant at a local nursery, here, in NJ, over the summer. It is in full bud but no open flowers yet. I’m hoping! Your post is just so bizarre because I was Googling this plant earlier today (just because, and before your post), then I pull up your blog just now and there it is! I had never even heard of this plant prior to seeing it this summer.
It better flower soon before you get a freeze! 🙂 And yes, that’s a funny coincidence, although I’m seeing it pop up in social media here in Texas because it’s flowering right now.
Heading up to Austin to get some for myself. I’ve yet to find a nursery in San Antonio carrying it – which is crazy because what a great addition to any central Texas garden!
I hope you get some, Cody!
I think Salvia madrensis is quite the versatile plant. I grew it on (yes, on and not in) awful caliche with some soil amendments in Austin, and it was happy. I liked it so much that two years ago, I bought it again to try in east Texas (acidic sandy loam low in nutrients). I’m pleased to say it’s just as happy here as it was in the alkaline caliche. My two plants are huge and are also blooming now.
I’m impressed to hear it grew well on caliche. What a tough plant, even if a little summer-wilty. But it’s a stunner in the fall.
It is a beautiful color.
It sure is.
Good show Pam. I’ve been wanting this big shade happy fall salvia. It should look good with our fall yellow flowering farfugium that is beginning bloom. I bought 4 at Barton Springs Nursery today and they have about 10 left.
Good score, Tom! I bet that will be a pretty combo.