Purple Salvia is Safe For Pets Including Dogs, Cats & Horses
In case you were wondering, “is purple salvia toxic or poisonous to dogs?” I am happy to say no, salvia leucophylla aka purple sage is safe for dogs and cats. I love sage plants for the wonderful fragrance of the leaves, the fact that it is drought tolerant, it is magnet for pollinators like hummingbirds (and who doesn’t like hummingbirds), and of course, most importantly, it is pet safe for dogs, cats and horses (and birds).
Physical Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Herbaceous perennial[1][2][3][4] |
| Height | 1-3 feet tall[1][2][3] |
| Spread | 1-3 feet wide[1][2][3] |
| Leaves | Green, opposite, ovate to lanceolate, aromatic[1][3][4] |
| Flowers | Purple, tubular, in upright spikes[1][2][3][4] |
| Bloom Time | Early summer to frost[1][2][4] |
| Growth Habit | Upright, clump-forming[1][3][4] |
General Care Tips
- Grow in full sun to partial shade[1][2][3][4]
- Prefers well-drained soil, amend with compost[1][2][3]
- Water regularly, but avoid overly wet soil[1][2][4]
- Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring[2]
- Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering[1][2][4]
- Divide clumps every 3-4 years in early spring[2][3]
- Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, some cultivars 4-9[1][3]
Fun Facts
- Attracts pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, bees[1][2][3][4]
- Deer and rabbit resistant due to aromatic foliage[1][2][4]
- Can be used as a cut flower or dried flower[3][4]
- Part of the mint (Lamiaceae) family[1][3]
- Low maintenance once established[1][2][3]
- Name derived from the Latin word “salvare” meaning “to heal”[3][4]
- Cultivars like ‘Marcus’, ‘Caradonna’ have different bloom times/colors[1][3]
We check the flowers we feature on our site with the ASPCA website list of nontoxic versus toxic plants and do extensive internet research for both the common and scientific name just to be super pet safe. If we cannot find direct reference, we check up to genus and so on until we can confirm whether a plant is toxic or non toxic to either cats or dogs. If we are not sure, or get contradictory information, we do not include it. Many of the plants featured we have grown successfully in our own pet safe garden in Northern California. You can see many of garden stars in photos from Lovie’s Pet Safe Garden. Salvia in any of the many colors it comes in including purple, blue, red, salmon, pink and white, is one category of flowering plants that are safe for dogs, cats and horses.
| Consideration | Details |
|---|---|
| Container Friendly | Yes, purple salvia does well in containers and pots.[3][5] |
| Indoor/Outdoor | Outdoor plant only.[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Sun/Shade | Prefers full sun, but can tolerate partial shade.[1][2][4][5] |
| Perennial/Annual | Herbaceous perennial plant.[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Flowering | Purple tubular flowers bloom in upright spikes from early summer to frost.[1][2][3] |
| Drought Tolerant | Yes, drought tolerant once established.[1][2][4][5] |
| Pollinator Magnet | Yes, attracts pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees.[1][2][4] |
| Beginner Friendly | Yes, relatively easy to grow and low maintenance.[1][2][3] |
| Good Ground Cover | No, grows in upright clumps, not a ground cover plant.[1][2][3][4] |
| Good Privacy Screen | No, only grows 1-3 feet tall, too short for a privacy screen.[1][2][3] |
| Invasive/Spreader | No, forms clumps but is not invasive or an aggressive spreader.[1][2][3] |
| Hardy/Delicate | Hardy perennial, cold tolerant down to USDA zone 3.[1][2][5] |
| Rodent Repellent | No specific evidence of rodent repelling ability.[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Deer Resistant | Yes, deer resistant due to aromatic foliage.[1][2][4] |
| Native To | Native to the Mediterranean region.[1][2][3] |
| Ideal States/Regions | Grows well across most of the United States, zones 3-9.[1][2][5] |
Citations:
[1] https://www.hunker.com/12003052/how-to-care-for-purple-salvia
[2] https://www.gardenia.net/plant/salvia-officinalis-purpurascens-purple-sage
[3] https://morningsunherbfarm.com/products/salvia-officinalis-purpurea-purple-sage
[4] https://mountainvalleygrowers.com/organic-plants/salvia-officinalis-purpurea-purple-garden-sage
[5] https://www.rockyknollfarm.com/products/salvia-officinalis-purpurea
[6] https://www.hunker.com/12003052/how-to-care-for-purple-salvia
[7] https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/how-plant/salvia
[8] https://www.gardenia.net/guide/salvia-plant-care-and-growing-guide
[9] https://www.almanac.com/plant/salvia
[10] https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-salvia/
