Salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’
Salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’ is a striking and vibrant half-hardy perennial, known for its glowing coral-orange flowers and lush, upright growth. Bred in Australia as part of the Wish series, this variety delivers a long-lasting display from late spring through to the first frosts, offering brilliant colour, elegant form, and an abundance of nectar-rich blooms for pollinators. Ideal for adding warmth and height to sunny borders or containers, ‘Ember’s Wish’ is a fantastic choice for gardeners who want bold colour with minimal fuss.
Key Features
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Botanical name: Salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’
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Common name: Ember’s Wish sage
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Plant type: Half-hardy herbaceous perennial
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Height: 80cm
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Spread: 80cm
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Flowering time: Late spring to late autumn (July to October)
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Rich coral-orange flowers with a glowing, ember-like intensity
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Dark calyces and stems provide striking contrast to the vibrant blooms
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Long-flowering and heat-tolerant once established
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Low-maintenance: Deadhead to extend blooming; cut back in spring
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Hardiness: Half-hardy – requires winter protection in colder areas (RHS hardiness rating H3)
Growth & Habit
Salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’ forms a well-branched, bushy clump with strong, upright stems. The mid-green foliage is lightly aromatic and sets off the glowing coral-orange flowers, which appear in abundance on tall spikes from late spring right through until the first frosts. The flowers are large, tubular, and displayed prominently, making the plant highly visible and impactful in any planting scheme.
Planting Advice
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Position: Full sun is essential for best flowering and healthy growth. Choose a sheltered position in cooler areas.
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Potted: Can be planted any time of year if the soil is not frozen or waterlogged.
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Soil: Prefers fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid heavy or clay-rich soils prone to waterlogging.
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Planting Depth: Plant with the crown level with the soil. Firm in gently and water thoroughly.
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Spacing: Space 60–90cm apart to allow for mature growth and good air circulation.
Ideal for patio pots, mixed borders, or as a standout feature in hot-colour planting schemes.
Care & Maintenance
Salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’ is easy to care for and rewards with months of flowers. Deadhead regularly to keep the display going. In colder regions, either mulch heavily in autumn or lift and overwinter in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory. In early spring, cut back last season’s growth to encourage strong new shoots. Water regularly during dry spells, especially in the first season or when grown in containers.
Uses in the Garden
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Brilliant for adding bold colour to sunny borders or mixed herbaceous beds
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A great choice for hot and Mediterranean-style planting schemes
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Suitable for large containers on patios and terraces
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A key plant for pollinator gardens – provides a long-lasting source of nectar
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Combines beautifully with dahlias, rudbeckias, ornamental grasses, and other salvias
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Effective in both contemporary and cottage garden designs
Salvia ‘Ember’s Wish’ is a vibrant and versatile perennial that brings fire and energy to the garden. Whether used in containers or borders, its vivid blooms and upright habit create instant impact and long-lasting beauty. A true sun lover, it’s also a firm favourite with pollinators – making it as practical as it is striking. Ideal for gardeners who want colour, performance, and ease all in one.
Buying Perennials from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we lightly trim back our perennials after flowering and trim them back at the end of the season to ensure that the plants remain neat and tidy whilst in the pot. The more tender the plant the less we cut back to help protect exposed stems from winter frost. Depending on the plant variety we will then prune back further in spring once the risk of the more severe frosts is over.
As a result, depending on the time of year you buy perennials, they may not look like images showing their ‘prime time’ in flower and looking at their best.
From late autumn onwards and dependent on variety, there may be very little visible above the soil except for a few cut back dormant leaves or stems. It is perfectly normal for dormant plants to look like this from autumn onwards, they will however burst back into life in spring.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
Perennials are described and classified differently by different gardeners but all would agree that they are plants that come into flower every year from early spring to late summer, the exact time dependent on variety and most die back to ground level in autumn and winter.
As for all plants, soil preparation is time well spent. Dig over the area to be planted ensuring that the ground is free draining. If not then you may wish to either consider planting in a different spot or raising the level of the planting area by adding additional topsoil, well rotted garden compost and/or well rotted manure. Add ‘Fish, Blood and Bone’ fertiliser or a high potash fertiliser to encourage good root growth and development.
It’s always a good idea to plant a few of the same plant together, we recommend planting in 3’s or 5’s to provide a bold effect but allowing them plenty of room to develop.
Always check eventual plant heights when planning borders to ensure that the taller plants are at the back (or at the centre of an island bed) followed by the medium and then smaller low growing plants.
Remember to deadhead perennials after flowering, trim back lightly in autumn as required to tidy the border and if necessary trim again in spring once the risk of heavy frost has passed.
If perennials get too big, start to flower less and less or if it seems to be dying off from the centre, consider dividing the plant but always check that the particular variety is happy to be divided and that you divide at the right time of year for the plant.
By using this simple guide and a little time, perennials can make an absolutely spectacular difference to your garden.
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£6.99 | ||
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£9.99 |