Salvia elegans
herbPineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) is a tender perennial salvia from the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala, grown as much for its fragrance as its flowers. Crush a leaf and it releases a sweet, distinctly pineapple aroma; in fall, just as the garden winds down, it erupts in spikes of brilliant scarlet tubular flowers that hummingbirds and late-season bees cannot resist. The plant makes a substantial 3 to 4 ft bush by season end. Both the soft green leaves and the edible red flowers are used fresh in fruit salads, teas, summer drinks, jellies, and as a garnish. Hardy only to about zone 8, it is grown as an annual or overwintered indoors farther north.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~90 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
tender perennial
Perennial in warm zones; grown as an annual where winters freeze
Spacing
24-36 in. apart
Planting Depth
Crown at soil line
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Rich, moist, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8 – 11
When to Fertilize
Light feed in spring/early summer
Fertilizer
Balanced or compost; moderate needs
Plant Pineapple Sage in full sun (light afternoon shade is fine in hot regions) in rich, moist, well-drained soil, after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm. Space plants 24 to 36 in. apart, as it grows into a large bush. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist - it is less drought-tolerant than woody sages - and pinch the growing tips early in the season to encourage a bushy, well-branched plant. It blooms on short days in fall, so avoid siting it under night lighting that can delay flowering. In zones 8 and warmer it overwinters outdoors; colder, take cuttings or pot it up and bring it inside before frost.
Start seeds indoors
Feb 18
Transplant outdoors
Apr 22
Projected first harvest
Jul 21
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Most common on plants overwintered indoors - rinse foliage, hang yellow sticky traps, and keep good airflow around the plant
Appear in hot dry conditions and on indoor plants - mist or rinse leaf undersides and avoid drought stress
Hose colonies off tender shoot tips; ladybugs and lacewings usually keep them in check outdoors
Harvest pineapple sage leaves anytime through the season by pinching young sprigs from the tips, which also keeps the plant bushy; flavor is best before flowering but the leaves stay usable all season. Pick the scarlet flowers as they open to scatter over fruit salads and desserts or to float in drinks. Leaves are best used fresh, as they lose their fruity aroma when dried; for short storage, keep cut sprigs in water like cut flowers.
Pineapple Sage is prized for its sweet, fruity, pineapple-scented leaves, used fresh in herbal teas, fruit salads, jellies, poultry dishes, and summer beverages, while the edible scarlet flowers make a striking garnish with a mild nectar-sweet taste. Beyond the kitchen it is a top hummingbird and pollinator plant, its fall flowers feeding migrating hummingbirds when little else is in bloom.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.