Getting it to bloom

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

Also called Velvet Sage, Dark-Flowered Bolivian Sage (Salvia atrocyanea).

More about velvet sage

About Velvet Sage

Salvia atrocyanea · also called Velvet Sage, Dark-Flowered Bolivian Sage · flowering

Velvet sage is a tall, tuberous deciduous perennial native to the moist Yungas piedmont forests of Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, producing drooping spikes of dark dusky-blue flowers with distinctive mid-green bracts tinged bluish-purple from late summer into autumn. It grows in full sun to partial shade in rich, moist but well-drained soil, and its tall arching stems often benefit from light staking. The most important care fact is to protect the tuberous roots from frost in cooler climates, either by heavy mulching in autumn or lifting and storing tubers indoors. The ASPCA lists Salvia as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Stem collapse / lodging: The heavy flower-bearing branches can droop and topple in wind or rain; insert grow-through supports early in the season before stems become too tall.

The reasons velvet sage isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming velvet 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 velvet 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 velvet sage to flower

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

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

Velvet Sage blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my velvet sage flower?

Velvet 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 velvet sage bloom?

Give velvet 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 velvet sage normally bloom?