Salvia Ultimate Growing & Plant Care Guide
Deer tend to steer clear from salvias and other sages, as they don’t like plants with a strong scent. Potted salvias can be purchased and planted in spring or fall. As a rule, salvias bloom late spring to fall, with some starting a little earlier and others like S. Extremely drought-tolerant, purple sage makes a lovely silver foliage accent in native plant gardens.
Pineapple Sage
It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees, and resists deer and rabbits. It’s also heat and drought tolerant, and adds interest in the fall. Does not set seed, so continues to bloom all season.
‘Blue Angel’ Sage
Hummingbirds and butterflies love this plant’s two-lipped bright red flowers that appear in stunning contrast to its yellow leaves in fall. This fast-growing, fragrant plant supplies startlingly red flowers in late summer to fall. It bears fuzzy green foliage on a well-branched, upright plant and blooms from summer to fall. In container gardens, it is often used as a filler that provides a mass of flowers and foliage against larger plants. A favorite plant for many gardeners, blue salvia (Salvia farinacea) is an easy perennial to grow. The more than 900 different salvia plants include garden sage (Salvia officinalis), the culinary herb used to flavor and garnish food.
Most varieties are native to hot, dry climates and can be grown as perennials. Plant this salvia next to ‘Black and Blue’ for a colorful cottage garden look. Like most salvias, it doesn’t need much water and thrives in a sunny spot.
Salvias are heat- and drought-tolerant, making them survivors in the summer garden. Salvia leaves’ distinctive, pungent odor acts as a repellent to garden pests. However, garden sage has a few attractive ornamental varieties itself.
Plant delicate white gaura next to this salvia to add a graceful texture. Grow ‘East Friesland’ with ‘Moonbeam’ coreopsis for a classic blue and yellow flower garden. Rub one of a pineapple sage’s leaves, and you’ll be rewarded with a fresh, fruity scent.
Selected species and their uses
Tricolor sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’) has silvery green foliage with creamy white edges with hints of purple. It has a long bloom time, showing off its clusters of purple flowers all summer long. ‘Hot Lips’ salvia (Salvia microphylla ‘Hot Lips’) is striking thanks to its vibrant white and red flowers, as well as its fine green foliage.
Yugoslavian Cut Leaf Sage
Don’t fuss with supports—sage plants are pretty self-sufficient and don’t need staking. Broadly, perennial salvias can be categorized into culinary and ornamental types, though some varieties bridge both worlds. As part of the expansive Lamiaceae family, Salvia species stand out for their fragrant leaves and eye-catching flowers. From culinary varieties to ornamental showstoppers, these aromatic plants bring both flavor and beauty to any garden.
- The notched, wrinkled, medium-green to gray-green leaves are aromatic when bruised.
- Tricolor sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’) has silvery green foliage with creamy white edges with hints of purple.
- The more than 900 different salvia plants include garden sage (Salvia officinalis), the culinary herb used to flavor and garnish food.
- The leaves can be simple or compound and are arranged oppositely along the square stems.
Silver Sage
From planting tips to pruning tricks, we’ve got everything you need to grow your best salvias yet! However, some, like Salvia divinorum (sometimes called “purple sage”), have psychoactive properties and should be handled with caution. While sage is generally a resilient plant, it can face a few challenges. For container plants, bring them indoors and place them near your brightest window.
Salvia Care Guide: Growing and Maintaining Beautiful Sage Plants
- A familiar plant, red sage (Salvia spendens), also known simply as red salvia, is technically a tropical perennial, but it’s more commonly grown as an annual.
- When used without modifiers, the name “sage” generally refers to Salvia officinalis (“common sage” or “culinary sage”), although it is used with modifiers to refer to any member of the genus.
- This method is cost-effective and ideal for replacing woody, older plants.
- Many gardeners think flopping is a sign that it is time to prune or divide their salvia.
Combine salvias alongside other plants with similar cultural needs of full sun and well-draining soil. Salvia (/ˈsælviə/) is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with just under 1,000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Take care when choosing salvias because not all plants are hardy in all regions; some are best treated as annuals, but many perennial varieties are also available. Hummingbirds and butterflies love salvias’ tubular flowers, and they’re adored by bees, too, so plant them if you wish to attract these pretty pollinators! Sage plants are pollinator magnets, drawing bees and butterflies to your garden. Aim for mild weather in spring or fall to give your plants the best start.
Find the best plants for your climate Its white flowers and leaflike bracts below them are pinkish or violet-flushed. Rosemary (S. rosmarinus, formerly Rosmarinus officinalis) is another important culinary herb and has fragrant narrow leaves and small bluish flowers. Some members are important as sources of flavouring, and many are grown as garden ornamentals.
Prairie salvia (Salvia azurea) is great for cutting and a wonderful accent to mums, kale, and asters. A fast-growing selection, ‘Hot Lips’ looks great in beds, borders, and containers. The notched, wrinkled, medium-green to gray-green leaves are aromatic when bruised. Noted for its pineapple aroma, ‘Golden Delicious’ (Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious’) features soft, hairy, light green leaves up to 3 inches long on square stems. It’s a top pick for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.
This plant is a summer spectacle that’s resilient, easy-going, and thrives in almost any climate. Use this hardy herbaceous perennial in mass salvia trip explained plantings, containers and borders. This hardy salvia has a compact mounding habit suitable for mass plantings and as border edging.
Gray-green leaves that are up to 4 inches long are paired on this plant’s square stems. Create an easy-growing but delicate-looking combo with ‘Blue Angel’ sage and ‘Diamond Frost’ euphorbia. Native to areas of South America, it holds up to hot, humid conditions well, although it’s not as drought-tolerant as many other salvias. An All-America Selections award winner, ‘Lady in Red’ (Salvia coccinea ‘Lady in Red’) presents vibrant red spikes of flowers all summer. It’s more compact than many other types of blue salvia and produces more flower spikes.
Fortunately, salvia does not tend to attract deer or rabbits. Meet Salvia—the show-stopping, pollinator-loving plant that’s as easy to grow as it is beautiful. Looking to add a splash of color and a whole lot of buzz to your garden?
