Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Well-suited

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 40 ecoregions — 35 climate-resilient through 2070 · 5 suited today. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Arizona Mountains forests

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Blue Mountains forests

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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Central-Southern Cascades Forests

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Colorado Rockies forests

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Cross-Timbers savanna-woodland

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What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Moderate water

Spacing

18"

Habit

Erect, clump-forming, multi-stemmed aromatic perennial

Care tips

•

Cut spent flower stems back to the basal leaves after each flush to trigger a fresh round of bloom and keep the clump tidy (NC State Extension).

•

Give it full sun and lean, well-drained soil — it takes heat and drought once established, but soggy ground will rot the crown.

•

Divide established clumps to make more plants and rejuvenate an aging crown; it is deer- and rabbit-resistant, so it suits browsed gardens.

Lifecycle

Planting

Easily grown in full sun to partial shade in average, moist, well-drained soil (NC State Extension). It prefers sandy or gravelly soil but tolerates most well-drained sites, including dry soils. NC State lists it as hardy across USDA hardiness zones 4a through 8b.

Transplanting

A clump-forming perennial — set plants about 18 inches apart and lift and divide established clumps to make more plants or rejuvenate an aging crown.

Early growth

Water to establish through the first season. Once rooted it is drought tolerant (NC State Extension); avoid waterlogged ground, which can rot the crown. Site in full sun for the heaviest bloom.

Maturity

Mature plants form an erect, multi-stemmed clump roughly 1.5-3 feet tall and up to 2 feet wide, flowering June to September. Once a flush has bloomed and the stem has turned brown, cut it down to the basal leaves and new flowers will appear (NC State Extension).

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by stem cuttings (NC State Extension); established clumps can also be lifted and divided.

Pollination

Self-fertile

Like other mints (Lamiaceae), Salvia nemorosa sets seed on its own — NC State Extension lists seed as a propagation method, so a single plant can reproduce without a partner. The dense flower spikes are a heavy nectar source: NC State Extension reports the flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and shearing spent stems keeps fresh flowers (and pollinator visits) coming from June to September.

For people

Not eaten by humans

Grown as an ornamental and aromatic foliage plant rather than a food crop; the leaves are aromatic when crushed. NC State Extension does not document culinary use, and lists no toxicity hazard for people or pets for Salvia nemorosa, but absence of a toxicity listing is not a clearance to eat it — treat it as a non-food ornamental.

Pet toxicity

NC State Extension does not list Salvia nemorosa as toxic to people or pets, nor does it document it as edible; it is grown as an ornamental, so do not feed it to pets or people.

Native range

AHS heat range

1-9

Climate notes

•

NC State Extension lists Salvia nemorosa as an herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae, native to Europe and west-central Asia, hardy across USDA hardiness zones 4a-8b in full sun to partial shade with average, moist, well-drained soil.

•

It is drought tolerant once established and seldom damaged by deer or rabbit browsing (NC State Extension), and prefers sandy or gravelly soil but tolerates most well-drained sites including dry soils — so it suits lean, sunny, sharply drained spots.

•

Bloom comes in flushes from June to September; cutting spent stems back to the basal leaves prompts a fresh round of flowers, making it a low-maintenance long-season performer (NC State Extension).

In the designer

Growth over time

18-36" tall · 6-24" spread

Mature 1.5-3 ft tall clump spreading up to 2 ft, blooming June to September in flushes when spent stems are cut back to the basal leaves.

Design roles: Border · Pollinator · Filler

Garden salvia

At a glance

Related products

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Sources & citations