Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Interrupted Sage, Moroccan Sage (Salvia interrupta).

More about interrupted sage

About Interrupted Sage

Salvia interrupta · also called Interrupted Sage, Moroccan Sage · flowering

Salvia interrupta is a woody-based perennial native to rocky hillsides and scrubland in Morocco and Algeria, producing distinctive bicoloured flowers — typically blue-violet with a white patch — on tall, interrupted spikes that give the species its common name. It suits a sheltered, sunny border in mild gardens or a cool greenhouse in colder climates, requiring excellent drainage above all else. The most important care fact is that although it can tolerate moderate frost when dry, wet winter soil at the roots is invariably fatal. The plant is considered mildly toxic to pets in common with other Salvia species.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons interrupted sage isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming interrupted 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 interrupted 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 interrupted sage to flower

Maximise sun. Give interrupted 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 interrupted sage and get the feeding right with the interrupted 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

Interrupted 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 interrupted sage care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Interrupted Sage blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my interrupted sage flower?

Interrupted 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 interrupted sage bloom?

Give interrupted 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 interrupted sage normally bloom?