Although the Salvia species is not native to Germany, it can survive well outdoors. The plant should only be protected in the harsh winter months so that it can survive the period unscathed. To ensure survival, you can cultivate clary sage in a bucket.
Clary sage copes well with mild winters
origin
Clary sage belongs to the mint family and originally comes from the Mediterranean region. Here the species grows in forests and on rocky slopes. It inhabits roadsides and fields. Although it grows in regions with mild winters, it occurs at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters. Here it has been able to adapt to frosty winter temperatures, making it easier to cultivate the plant in Central Europe.
The species thrives at this location:
- sunny place
- sheltered location
- well-drained and sandy soil
maintenance
Despite the adaptation to sandy substrates, the clary sage likes a slightly moist soil. Once he has settled into the garden, you can leave the plant to its own devices. In prolonged dry periods, the mint family requires additional watering. If you cultivate the plant in a bucket, you must water it regularly. The substrate dries out faster in the pot. Additional fertilization is not necessary, since clary sage has a low nutrient requirement.
hibernate
Newly purchased young plants should not be placed directly outdoors, as they are very susceptible to cold temperatures in the first year. In the second year they can be placed outside to develop the inflorescence there. Plants that germinate outdoors usually cope better with outdoor conditions and do not necessarily have to be cultivated in pots.
Grown specimens prove to be hardy down to temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius. If the thermometer continues to fall, winter protection is recommended for the survival of the perennial. Cover the leaf rosette with brushwood, straw or bark mulch. Wetness can also be dangerous. Be careful not to soak the substrate during the winter months.
pot culture
In order to get the clary sage safely through the frosty winter, cultivation in a bucket is recommended. In autumn, place the pot in a frost-free place. Temperatures of around ten degrees Celsius are ideal. Moisten the substrate occasionally to keep the roots from drying out.