Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’ is a popular choice among gardeners, celebrated for its unique charm and vibrant display of color. This particular sage offers prolonged garden interest, adding both beauty and structure to various landscape designs.
Understanding Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’
Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’ is an upright, bushy plant, typically reaching 1 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4 feet) in height and spread. Its foliage features ovate, aromatic, light to mid-green leaves. The plant’s most notable feature is its abundant, showy, distinctive deep pink to magenta flowers, which are single and two-lipped and appear in erect racemes. These blooms emerge from late spring, usually around May, and continue through summer and into autumn, often until November.
Planting and Site Selection
Plant Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’ from late May to early June, after the risk of late spring frosts. This allows the plant to establish before colder weather. Select a location with full sun, ideally receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. While it tolerates light shade, full sun promotes the most robust growth and abundant flowering.
Well-drained soil is also important. ‘Penny’s Smile’ tolerates various soil types (sandy to loamy) and pH levels (acidic, alkaline, or neutral). Good drainage prevents waterlogging. Amending the planting area with organic matter can improve soil structure and drainage, but overly rich soil is not necessary and can cause leggy growth.
Essential Care Requirements
Once established, Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’ is drought tolerant. However, for optimal performance and continuous blooming, consistent moisture is beneficial. Water thoroughly when the top two inches of soil feel dry, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent root issues. Container plants generally require more frequent watering.
‘Penny’s Smile’ is a light feeder and typically does not require extensive fertilization. Over-fertilizing can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of flowers and may cause leggy growth. If soil is poor, apply a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer sparingly in early spring. Otherwise, the plant thrives in average soil conditions. Good drainage, especially in winter, is important for long-term health.
Pruning and Ongoing Maintenance
Regular pruning maintains the shape of Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’, encourages new growth, and promotes continuous flowering. Deadheading, removing spent flowers, stimulates more blooms. Snip faded flower spikes just above healthy leaves or a new side shoot.
Beyond deadheading, a more substantial prune can shape the plant and prevent it from becoming woody or leggy. Prune back by about one-third after a major flush of flowering. In late spring, once new growth has started and frost risk has passed, remove old, tough stems to encourage fresh shoots from the base. This helps maintain a compact, bushy habit and ensures a steady supply of vibrant flowers.
Winter Protection
Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’ is semi-hardy (H4), tolerating temperatures down to -10°C to -5°C (14°F to 23°F). In colder climates, winter protection is advisable. Mulch around the plant’s base with dry organic material like straw or bark chips to insulate roots.
Leave existing foliage through winter for natural crown protection. Delay significant cutting back until late spring when new growth appears and frost danger has passed. For container plants in harsh winters, move them to a sheltered, unheated location like a garage or greenhouse. Taking cuttings in late summer allows new plants to be grown under protection.
Benefits and Garden Uses
Salvia ‘Penny’s Smile’ offers many garden benefits. Its vibrant, deep pink flowers attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, contributing to garden biodiversity. The plant’s upright, bushy habit and prolonged flowering make it an excellent choice for various applications.
It can be used in mixed borders, as a specimen plant in containers, or planted in mass for striking visual impact. Its drought tolerance once established also makes it suitable for drier climates or low-maintenance gardens.