What soil does Meadow sage grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous.

Is Meadow sage hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How much water does Meadow sage need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Meadow sage

Salvia pratensis

Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis) is a perennial. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high.

Illustration of Meadow sage — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A violet-blue wildflower of dry meadows: from late May slender flower spikes rise above a basal rosette of wrinkled leaves and draw bees and bumblebees. Cut it back after the first flush and it often flowers again in late summer. Give it sun and lean, well-drained soil; it suits flower meadows and naturalistic borders, and although single plants may fade after a few years, seedlings usually replace them.

Watch out for

It often dies in heavy soil that stays wet in winter. Powdery mildew, leaf spot and rust can appear in crowded, humid plantings, but there are no serious pests.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 70 cm × 50 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	70 cm × 50 cm
Ultimate size	0.3–1 m × 30–90 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	May–September, blue, purple, pink, white
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	40 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	no data
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for full sun Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant perennials Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Perennials for pollinators Low-maintenance perennials

Looks good next to it

Atlas fescue

Festuca mairei

Variegated rock cress

Arabis ferdinandi-coburgi

Irish juniper

Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'