Autumn Sage

Sun/part shade; evergreen. A tough salvia with tubular red, pink, purple, or white flowers throughout the year (especially in spring or fall). The flowers are sweet and edible, attract hummingbirds, and make a good companion plant in the herb garden. A far west Texas native, autumn sage adapts to many soil types but needs good drainage and benefits from a little organic matter (i.e. compost) if planted in heavy clay. Groom it three times a year to keep it tidy: cut back by half in February or after early spring, by a third in June (after flowering) and again in August to prep for fall.