Salvia is a perennial grown for its blooms, which open from spring through fall and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
4.2-8.3
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
80
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What Salvia is
Salvia grows as a perennial and reaches around a foot and a half at maturity. It blooms from spring through fall. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Salvia
Salvia grows in USDA zones 2 through 11. Salvia does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.2 to 8.3, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,100 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.2 - 8.3
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells)
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Frost Tolerance
41°F
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Days to Maturity
80 days
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GDD Required
1100+
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Mature Height
1.5 ft
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Frost-Free Days
120+
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Start the season right
Plant salvia in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Salvia prefers pH 4.2 to 8.3 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut salvia blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — salvia isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Salvia is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Salvia thrives
On hardiness alone, salvia grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Salvia growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Salvia can grow in these states:
See if Salvia will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether salvia actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Salvia in my zone?
Salvia grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Salvia?
Most growers plant salvia after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Salvia need?
Salvia needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Salvia need?
Salvia prefers soil pH 4.2 to 8.3, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Salvia attract pollinators?
Yes — salvia's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Salvia safe for pets?
Salvia is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.