Repotting guide

When & how to repot Tangier Sage (Salvia tingitana)

Also called Tangier sage, Moroccan silver sage.

More about tangier sage

About Tangier Sage

Salvia tingitana · also called Tangier sage, Moroccan silver sage · herb

Salvia tingitana is an aromatic perennial or short-lived subshrub native to northern Morocco and the area around Tangier, where it grows on dry, rocky hillsides in full sun. The plant is notable for its densely silver-woolly leaves and relatively large, pale lavender to white flowers produced in summer. It needs a very warm, sheltered, sunny position and near-perfect drainage to survive, and in the UK benefits from the protection of a south-facing wall. ASPCA does not individually list this species; as a Salvia it should be treated as mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

Mature size: 60–90 cm tall, 50–70 cm wide

How to tell tangier sage needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For tangier sage, watch for these signs:

Roots growing out of the drainage holes, or the rootball lifting the plant proud of the rim.
Soil that has shrunk away from the pot sides and no longer holds water.
The pot is unstable because the plant has grown top-heavy.
Old, compacted, broken-down mix that stays wet too long — for a succulent that is a rot risk, so refresh it even if the pot size is fine.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot tangier sage

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix. Tangier Sage's growth habit — upright, branching subshrub with woolly silver-grey foliage — sets the pace. Salvia tingitana is an aromatic perennial or short-lived subshrub native to northern Morocco and the area around Tangier, where it grows on dry, rocky hillsides in full sun. The plant is notable for its densely silver-woolly leaves and relatively large, pale lavender to white flowers produced in summer. It needs a very warm, sheltered, sunny position and near-perfect drainage to survive, and in the UK benefits from the protection of a south-facing wall. ASPCA does not individually list this species; as a Salvia it should be treated as mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

What size pot to step tangier sage up to

Use a pot only one size up — or even the same pot with fresh gritty mix if the roots have room. Tangier Sage stores water and rots in a large pot of slow-drying soil. A tight terracotta pot that dries fast is far safer than a generous plastic one. Never up-pot a succulent by several sizes.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot tangier sage

Spring or summer, while tangier sage is in active growth and warm, is best — roots recover fastest then, and the plant is not sitting in cool damp soil. Avoid repotting a succulent in winter dormancy.

Step-by-step: repotting tangier sage

Repot dry. Do not water tangier sage for several days first. Working with dry roots and dry mix dramatically lowers the rot risk for a succulent.
Pick a snug, fast-draining pot. Choose terracotta one size up at most, with a drainage hole. Have gritty free-draining, sandy or gritty, neutral to alkaline ready.
Tip it out and clean the roots. Slide the plant out, crumble off the old soil, and trim any black, mushy or dead roots with clean snips.
Pot into dry mix. Set tangier sage at its original depth in dry gritty mix, firming gently. Do not bury the stem deeper than it was.
Wait a week before watering. Leave it completely dry and out of harsh sun for about 7 days so any damaged roots callus. Only then water lightly.

Aftercare

Keep tangier sage completely dry and out of fierce sun for about a week so any nicked roots callus before they meet moisture; watering a freshly repotted succulent is the classic way to rot it. Then resume the normal lean, dry rhythm. Do not fertilise for about 3 weeks — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for tangier sage

Tangier Sage wants free-draining, sandy or gritty, neutral to alkaline. Amend heavy soils generously with coarse horticultural grit; the plant is native to thin, rocky Mediterranean soils and will not persist in fertile, moisture-retentive beds. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting tangier sage — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot tangier sage?

Every 2–3 years, into bone-dry mix for tangier sage. Repot tangier sage every 2–3 years into a snug pot of free-draining, sandy or gritty, neutral to alkaline, ideally in spring or summer. Let it sit in dry soil and do not water for about a week afterwards so any nicked roots can callus. Over-potting and watering straight away is what rots succulents.

What size pot does tangier sage need?

When is the best time of year to repot tangier sage?

Should you water tangier sage after repotting?

No — not straight away. Repot tangier sage into dry mix and wait about a week before the first watering so any damaged roots callus over. Watering a freshly repotted succulent is the single most common way to rot one.

Should you fertilise tangier sage after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 3 weeks after repotting tangier sage. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.