Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Straw-red sage (Salvia stramineorubra).

More about straw-red sage

About Straw-red Sage

Salvia stramineorubra · also called Straw-red sage · flowering

Salvia stramineorubra is a rare perennial sage, the epithet 'stramineorubra' meaning straw-coloured and red, referring to the bicoloured bracts and flowers that characterise the species. Like most Salvia species from semi-arid habitats, it demands full sun and sharp drainage, with a strong tolerance for dry periods once established. Good air circulation around the plant reduces the risk of fungal problems that affect damp-grown sages. The ASPCA lists Salvia species as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

The reasons straw-red sage isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming straw-red 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 straw-red 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 straw-red sage to flower

Maximise sun. Give straw-red 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 straw-red sage and get the feeding right with the straw-red 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

Straw-red 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 straw-red sage care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Straw-red Sage blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my straw-red sage flower?

Straw-red 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 straw-red sage bloom?

Give straw-red 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 straw-red sage normally bloom?