Musk Pink Sage
Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’
Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’ is perfect for small gardens, where you may not have room for some of the larger Sage bushes.
Because it grows as a small, round, tight ball of tiny aromatic leaves, dotted all over for months with delightful soft pink flowers, just like the colour of old-fashioned Musk Stick lollies.
Musk Pink Sage is almost never out of flower (and evergreen).
So it delights our native Honeyeater birds, bees and butterflies (and us) for months on end.
So Musk Pink Sage makes a wonderful permanent pot for a sunny spot or on a balcony, and a valuable feature in a small garden or courtyard.
Naturally growing as a small, neat ball - it makes an excellent plant for informal topiary balls and low hedges. And it accepts clipping happily if you want to keep it more strictly formal in shape.
Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’ is big on flower value for size and space; but equally as tough as it’s bigger Sage cousins.
So it revels in sun and heat.
It is drought resistant and water-wise for gardeners with limited water supplies.
GROWING: Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’
Height with flowers: 60-80cm. approx.
Width: Rounded ball shaped shrub 60-80cm. Wide approx.
Bloom Season: From late spring-early summer, right through summer and well into autumn.
Position: Full sun is preferred, though a little dappled shade is tolerated.
Particularly suits coastal, hot or dry gardens, as well as areas with summer humidity.
Water: Water wise plant.
Drought resistant once established. Can tolerate periods of dry well with minimal additional water assistance.
Frost: Tolerates light frosts to approx. -2C. but some overhead shelter (such as neighbouring shrubs or a balcony) allows it to grow in more frosty areas.
Soil: Tolerates a wide range of soils – from acid to neutral pH, as well as where lime is present.
But soil must always be well drained.
Particularly suited to sandy soils, gravel, rocky and coastal positions.
Growth: Evergreen, rounded little shrubby perennial. It naturally grows as a small, rounded, dense ball of small foliage.
Care & Maintenance: Easy care, low maintenance.
Pruning: Clipping and pruning is not essential, though Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’ is an excellent candidate for formal clipped balls and low formal hedges.
Pests & Diseases: Rarely troubled by any pests or diseases.
Fertilizer: Do not over-fertilize. Quality fertilizer, such as Powerfeed, can be applied sparingly in spring.
Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’ is not a heavy feeder, and is better blooming and more compact when it is not excessively fed.
We recommend to water in with Seasol at planting. Plus occasionally after to enhance resistance against frost, wind and heat, particularly when it is growing in tough and challenging conditions.
Container: Hardy & easy in a container. And almost ever-blooming makes it a particularly good feature pot.
Bees, Birds & Pollinators: Flowers are very attractive to bees, butterflies, honey eating native birds, and other beneficial pollinators. Long and prolific flowering means there is always abundant nectar for bees and birds.
Rabbits & Deer Resistance: Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’ is unlikely to be bothered by either rabbits or deer, as they dislike the taste of the aromatic foliage.
The crushed foliage has a pleasant fruity aroma, but apparently it is not fun for rabbits and deer.
Pet Friendly: No known ill effects for pets.
Quarantine Restriction: None. Salvia microphylla ‘Musk Pink’ can be delivered to all states by Di’s Delightful Plants. One of Australia’s largest on-line mail order nurseries.