Since not all varieties of steppe sage are equally hardy, you should clarify this question when buying. Either your stockist or gardener knows the answer, or the plant should come with a revealing label.
Woodland sage is often hardy down to -25°C
Hardy varieties of steppe sage tolerate frosty temperatures down to - 25 °C at least for a certain time. In a fairly mild area, you usually don't need protection from nighttime frosts. Too much moisture can do far more damage to the steppe sage. Varieties that are not hardy should overwinter in a cold house or under similar conditions.
How do you winterize steppe sage?
If you have already pruned your hardy steppe sage in autumn, then protect the plant from severe frost as a precaution. To do this, cover it with a thin layer of brushwood, dry leaves or straw.
As soon as it gets a little warmer again, this protective layer should be removed immediately so that the plant does not suffer from fungal infestation due to persistent moisture. It is easier to prune the steppe sage in the spring, then it is protected from the rigors of winter by its own foliage.
How to care for steppe sage in winter?
Hardy plants in the garden bed freeze to death less often than they die of thirst. To prevent this danger, water your steppe sage a little from time to time in the frost-free period. Too much moisture can damage it just as much as too little, because it can easily lead to fungus or the plant rotting. However, complicated care is not required.
It is best to plant non-hardy steppe sage in pots or planters. Put them in a cold house, an unheated conservatory or a greenhouse over the winter so that they can overwinter there frost-free. Do not fertilize at all during this time and limit watering a little.
The most important winter tips for steppe sage:
- often hardy to - 25 °C
- not all varieties are hardy
- overwinter non-hardy variety indoors or in a greenhouse
- do not fertilize in winter and water little
- protect against standing moisture
tips
If you plant non-hardy varieties of steppe sage in planters or pots right away, then you don't have to dig up these perennials in autumn and put them in pots for the winter.