Herbs
Salvia elegans
Pineapple sage
A tender, leafy perennial with pineapple-scented foliage and scarlet flowers late in the season. Shelter tall stems from wind.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun
- Mature size
- 3–5 ft. tall × 3–4 ft. wide
- Water
- Moist, well-drained soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 8–10; usually annual locally
- Bloom
- Red tubes, late summer–fall; hummingbird favorite.
Sizes & prices
- 4.5"$6.99
- 6"$11.99
- 8"$16.99
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Resistance & tolerances
- Deer
- Listed as resistant; browsing remains possible.
- Drought
- Some tolerance, but leaves drop if too dry.
- Wet soil
- Needs drainage; keep moist, not saturated.
Resistance is not a guarantee; deer and rabbits may browse any plant.
Culinary uses
- Edible flowers
- Sweet, fruity, with minty-spicy notes.
- Try in
- Tea, flavored cream cheese, jams and jellies.
- Identity
- Not interchangeable with ornamental scarlet sage.
Growing & care
- Propagation
- Stem cuttings.
- Garden use
- Herb beds and pollinator borders.
- Harvest
- Pick leaves or flowers during active growth and use fresh.
Frost kills top growth; do not assume it will return through a tristate winter.
Sources & photo credits
Iowa State University Extension
Photo: Cathy Dewitt · CC BY 4.0
Image notes: Representative plant photograph; resized and compressed, not cropped. Not a photograph of current nursery stock.
Reviewed September 15, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.