Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' (Salvia hybrid 'Wendy's Wish')

Salvia 'Wendy's Wish' is a hybrid ornamental sage discovered in Australia, prized for its masses of magenta-pink, tubular flowers and long bloom season. A member of the Lamiaceae family, it's a magnet for hummingbirds and pollinators.

Description

Bushy, upright perennial 3–4 feet tall and wide. Stems are square, dark. Leaves are ovate, toothed, aromatic, mid-green. Flowers are 1.5 inches, magenta-pink with a white throat, borne in whorls on long, dark spikes. Blooms from late spring to frost (year-round in mild climates). Sterile hybrid—no seed.

Growing Conditions

• Zones: 9–11 as perennial; grown as annual in cooler zones.
• Light: Full sun.
• Soil: Well-drained, average fertility.
• Water: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established.
• Temperature: Heat-tolerant; protect from hard freeze.

Care & Maintenance

Deadhead spent spikes for more blooms. Cut back by half in late winter. Feed monthly with balanced fertilizer. Propagate from cuttings (patented—PP21889).

Uses

Pollinator gardens, hummingbird gardens, mixed borders, containers. Long-lasting cut flower. Deer-resistant.

Potential Issues

Root rot in wet soil. Powdery mildew in humid, stagnant air. Generally tough and floriferous.

A hummingbird magnet with nonstop magenta blooms—easy, tough, and generous.