smart crimson peak bloom from late spring to shine ; great for containers or the garden ; endure a farseeing time ; 12–14 inches tall ; wintertime hardiness zone 7–9 ; stop up Photo Credit Growing Colors .

Bees , butterfly stroke , and hummingbirds fuck them ! industrial plant that do well in full sun and well - drained soil and do n’t mind being exhaust by deer or rabbits Drought tolerant once established and requires little care . Deadhead to encourage uninterrupted blossoming .

With its vivacious cherry tree red blooms and compact form , Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage is one of the most pop varieties of this classic unfolding perennial . In this clause , we ’ll explore why this salvia is so widely admired by gardeners across the country .

mirage cherry red autumn sage

Overview

Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage ( Salvia greggii ‘ Balmircher ’ ) delivers stunning color from late spring through fall The bright red flowers pop against the backcloth of lithe unripe leaf develop by leading stock breeder Ball Horticultural as part of the Mirage serial publication , this improved selection pop the question flush power and heat allowance .

Like other autumn salvia varieties , Mirage Cherry Red is a tough , low - maintenance plant that thrives in full sun and warm climates . A aboriginal perennial in many southern state of matter , it acts as an annual in cold zone but can be overwinter indoors . Mirage Cherry Red reaches just 12 - 14 inches tall and wide , make it ideal for containers as well as garden beds and borders .

countenance ’s see more intimately at what makes this niggling power station so especial :

Notable Features

Prolific Bloom Season

Few plants can match the bloom production of Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage . It commence pumping out bloom of youth in late spring or former summertime and continues mightily up until frost , often into November or December . The blossoms seem on tall , airy raceme hold above the foliation . Deadheading drop flower promotes novel bud .

Vibrant Red Color

The fertile , saturated reddened flower are the star of the show . Ranging from cherry to deep red , they have an eye - catching intensity and subtly iridescent luster Color stay on-key all season long with no fading . The dark calyxes cater decent contrast

Fragrant Blooms

In addition to visual appeal , the flowers turn a lovely , light fragrance . It ’s not overpowering , but adds to the plant ’s charm when smelled up close Lightly brush the blossoms and enjoy their odorous perfume

Heat and Drought Tolerance

Mirage Cherry Red thrives in hot , ironic conditions where few other plants exist . It shrugs off summer heat up to 95 ° F and readily bounce back from drouth once watered . These traits make it an excellent pick for xeriscaping .

Long Bloom Period

You ’ll get up to 6 months of continuous color . blossom begin up to a month earlier than traditional fall sage miscellanea and last until stamp out rime . Deadheading prolongs bloom time even further .

Deer and Pest Resistance

cervid and rabbits disregard this plant , making it idealistic where these pests are a trouble . It ’s also tolerant to common disease and withstands heat and humidness without mould or foliage spot .

Evergreen Foliage

The small , svelte leaves keep their green color year circle in warm mood , providing leaf through wintertime . Where not sturdy , it can be overwinter as a houseplant .

This winning combination of traits makes Mirage Cherry Red a standout performer suited to nearly any garden scene !

Planting and Care

Successfully grow Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage is simple if you play a few basic needs :

Sunlight : works in full sun for heaviest flowering ; will accept light good afternoon shade . Requires at least 6 hours of direct sunshine daily .

Soil : modal garden soil is okay as long as it drains well . Prefers slightly alkaline pH but adapts to most soils . Intolerant of fuddled , poorly drain sites .

Water : Drought tolerant once established but grows right with average moisture . Allow soil to dry between lacrimation . Good drainage is cardinal .

Hardiness : Rated for zones 7 - 10 . Grown as an yearbook in cooler mood . Can be overwintered indoors in great deal .

fertiliser : Apply balanced heyday fertilizer or irksome - release granules in spring . Rose food also wreak well . stave off high-pitched atomic number 7 formulas .

Pruning : Little take – just trim back any dead growth in late winter to encourage new foliage . Remove spent prime spikes to upgrade rebloom . head off shearing the plant .

Propagation : well propagated by root thinning in summer or division in spring after efflorescence cycle . seed can also be collect .

Pests and Problems : cervid resistant . keep off powdery mould by providing good air circulation . Aphids may appear but are easily controlled with insecticidal max spray treatment .

With right siting and guardianship , Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage will reward you with brilliant color from spring to fall !

Uses in the Landscape

Thanks to its compact size and vibrant blooms , Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage fits attractively into all types of gardens :

Beds and Borders – Its mounding form mold nicely along edges or in sundry repeated bed . Combine with cosmetic pasture , Russian salvia and sedums .

container – Looks grotesque in terrace green goddess and planters . plant life alone or with blue or royal companion like verbena , genus Petunia and million bells .

Rock Gardens – Low - growing mirage salvia is idealistic for the front of rock or alpine garden . Allow it to drape gracefully over edges .

Xeriscaping – Drought and heat allowance make it a perfect choice for low - body of water landscapes and tilt garden .

Butterfly Gardens – The nectar - plenteous flowers pull hordes of butterflies and hummingbirds all season long .

Cottage Gardens – Its loose , airy flavour suits cottage garden . Partner with daisy , coneflowers , catmint and yarrow .

Edging – Use as a blue edging plant along walks , curbs and driveway borders . Also effective in parking lot island .

Groundcover – outer space plants 12″ asunder for a vivacious flowering groundcover . well in sunny , well - drained area .

Because it meld nicely with almost any efflorescence type , feel free to get creative with Mirage Cherry Red in your beds , boundary line and container !

Notable Mirage Series Varieties

The Mirage series by Ball Horticultural includes a range of fall sage varieties featuring improved bloom performance , weather permissiveness and compact growth :

Mirage Orange Autumn Sage – vivacious orangish - flushed flowers from spring to frost on 12″ plants .

Mirage Bright Red Autumn Sage – Dense , cherry - crimson flowers on mounded 10″ plants . Extremely floriferous .

Mirage Apricot Autumn Sage – Pastel , peachy - Orange River blooming on 14″ mound from early summertime until first freeze .

Mirage Purple Autumn Sage – Rich orchidaceous plant - violet flowers on 14″ plant . Blooms heaviest in summer but stay on into dusk .

Mirage Silver Autumn Sage – silvern foliage with wan purple flowers . farm 12″ tall and wide .

All share excellent heat and drought margin along with the attractively floriferous riding habit that makes Mirage autumn sag down top performers . chaffer your local garden center to choose your favorites from this outstanding works serial publication .

Common Questions

If you are look at adding Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage to your landscape painting , here are answers to some frequently demand questions :

How big does Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage get?It attain 12 - 14 inches tall and wide . Stays compact without getting long-shanked or floppy .

What zona is it hardy in?Rated for geographical zone 7 - 10 . Grown as an annual elsewhere or overwintered indoors .

Does it bloom the first year?Yes , it will blossom starting its first summer if planted in spring after all chance of frost .

Does it come back every year?In zones 7 - 10 , it will fall as a reliable perennial . Will self - seed readily . Dies back elsewhere but can be arise as an annual .

How much sun does it need?Full sun is best , but will take on some afternoon shade . Requires a lower limit of 6 hours unmediated sunlight per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .

How often does it bloom?Continuously from late give until downfall hoarfrost , especially if spent flower spikes are quickly deadheaded .

What soil atmospheric condition does Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage prefer?Average garden ground with good drainage . Tolerates teetotal and slimly alkaline soils . debar constantly blotto site .

How do I winter it indoors?Dig up plants and repot into container before first frost . Keep pots in a gay window and reduce watering until outflow .

Is Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage cervid resistant?Yes , deer and cony ignore this flora , seduce it ideal for gardens with these blighter .

Let us know if you have any other question about growing this outstanding plant !

Where to Buy Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage

Mirage Cherry Red Autumn Sage is carried by garden center and greenhouse across the United States . Local sources let in :

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August Companion Plants – Autumn Sage