Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Convent Sage
Convent Sage is a Texas sage with the darkest flowers of the group, a bright magenta against silver-gray leaves. It grows into a rounded shrub about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, a little smaller than the common Texas sage. The biggest bloom comes with the humid monsoon weather, with smaller flushes from spring through fall. It takes full sun, reflected heat and very little water once rooted.
Best for: informal hedges and screens, hot walls with reflected heat, beds and borders, and low-water yards that want summer color.
Plant a row about 6 to 8 feet apart and let the shrubs grow together into a soft, rounded hedge 5 to 6 feet tall. Leave it unsheared so it keeps its flowers.
It takes full sun and the reflected heat off walls, driveways and paving. The silver-gray leaves stay good-looking through the summer on very little water.
The biggest show comes with the high humidity of monsoon season, when it covers itself in magenta flowers. Smaller flushes open from spring through fall, and bees visit them.
Soil that stays wet causes root rot, so it needs excellent drainage and little winter water. Shearing it into a ball cuts off flower buds and thins the plant.
- Plant to plant6-8 ft apart
- Informal hedge6 ft apart, center to center
Water every few days at first, then stretch the time between soaks over the first two months. Water deeply and let the top of the soil dry before the next soak.
Once rooted, give it a deep soak about every 2 to 3 weeks in summer and about once a month or less in winter. Beyond rain it needs little, except in long dry spells.
Its natural rounded shape needs little or no pruning. If you prune, cut select branches with hand pruners in late winter or early spring. Shearing cuts off flower buds and thins the plant.
This variety needs soil with excellent drainage to do well. Too much water and poorly drained soil cause root rot, so plant it where water drains away and water little in winter.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Convent sage get?
It grows about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide, a little smaller than the common Texas sage. Give it that much room so you do not have to shear it.
What color are Convent sage flowers?
The flowers are a bright magenta, the darkest of the Texas sages. They stand out against the silver-gray leaves.
When does Convent sage bloom?
It flowers now and then from spring through fall, with the biggest bloom during humid monsoon weather. A flush often follows a summer rain.
How far apart should I plant Convent sage?
Plant it about 6 to 8 feet apart center to center, or about 6 feet for a hedge that fills in sooner. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
How often should I water Convent sage?
Water deeply while it roots, letting the soil dry between soaks. Once rooted, soak it about every 2 to 3 weeks in summer and once a month or less in winter.
Can I shear Convent sage into a ball?
It is better not to. Shearing cuts off the flower buds and thins the inside of the plant. Prune select branches with hand pruners in late winter or early spring instead.
Can Convent sage take reflected heat?
Yes. Plant it in full sun, even against a hot wall or driveway. In shade it grows leggy and flowers less.
How cold can Convent sage take?
It is hardy to about 10°F. In winter, water it once a month or less, since soil that stays wet causes root rot.
Why is my Texas sage dying?
Too much water or soil that stays wet is the most common cause, because it leads to root rot. Cut back on watering and make sure water drains away from the roots.
Does Convent sage attract bees?
Yes. Bees and other pollinators visit the flowers when it blooms. Rabbits and deer usually leave it alone.
Can Convent sage bother allergies?
It can. Its pollen can bother people with allergies, so plant it away from windows and seating if that is a concern.
Is Convent sage messy?
No. It drops very little litter, so it works as a hedge beside a pool or patio.
Convent Sage for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Convent is a Texas sage picked for its deep magenta flowers and slightly smaller size. Like other Texas sages it blooms hardest after summer rain and humid days. This page covers its size, spacing, watering, pruning and what to expect in a Valley yard.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
How big does Convent Texas sage get?
Plan for about 5 to 6 feet tall and wide. It stays slightly smaller than the common Texas sage and keeps a rounded shape without shearing.
How far apart to plant Convent sage
Plant it about 6 to 8 feet apart center to center. For a hedge that closes in sooner, use about 6 feet. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your row.
When does Convent sage bloom in Phoenix?
It blooms in flushes from spring through fall, and hardest during the humid monsoon weeks. The magenta flowers often open right after a summer rain.
Convent sage for reflected heat
It takes full sun and the reflected heat off walls and paving, and it needs very little water once rooted. Plant it where water drains well.
How to prune Texas sage without losing flowers
Let it keep its natural shape. If you need to prune, cut select branches with hand pruners in late winter or early spring. Shearing cuts off the flower buds.
How often to water Convent sage in summer
Once it is rooted, a deep soak about every 2 to 3 weeks in summer is plenty. In winter, water once a month or less.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.