Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Barrelier's Sage bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Barrelier's Sage, North African Sage, Berber Clary (Salvia barrelieri).

More about barrelier's sage

About Barrelier's Sage

Salvia barrelieri · also called Barrelier's Sage, North African Sage · flowering

Barrelier's sage is a semi-deciduous herbaceous perennial native to northern Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) and southwestern Spain, where it grows at elevations of 500–1,200m in sunny, well-drained habitats. It forms large basal rosettes of wavy grey-green leaves and sends up dramatic branching spikes of lavender-blue to sky-blue flowers in summer and autumn, which are excellent for cutting. The most important care fact is to provide excellent drainage and full sun, as it rots readily in heavy, wet soils. The ASPCA lists Salvia as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Aphids: May colonise new growth and flower spikes in spring; knock off with a strong jet of water or treat with insecticidal soap; avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers that attract aphids.

The reasons barrelier's sage isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming barrelier's sage traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding barrelier's sage a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get barrelier's sage to flower

Maximise sun. Give barrelier's sage the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for barrelier's sage and get the feeding right with the barrelier's sage fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Barrelier's Sage flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full barrelier's sage care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Barrelier's Sage blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my barrelier's sage flower?

Barrelier's Sage blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make barrelier's sage bloom?

Give barrelier's sage the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does barrelier's sage normally bloom?