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Mainstays of the summer and fall garden, Salvias offer showy flowers and attractive, often scented foliage. Most prefer good drainage and sun, but many will bloom well in shade. Most are quite drought-tolerant, and require little care once established. Salvias are members of the mint family, and all have two-lipped flowers in terminal or axillary spikes (technically, verticillasters, meaning that they seem to be whorls of flowers around the stems, but are actually pairs of opposite cymes). (Did that help?) The large genus has over 750 species or perennial and annual herbaceous plants, subshrubs, and shrubs, of wide distribution throughout the world.
Salvia Agnes : LAMIACEAE, (Agnes Sage). Blue flowering sage. Flowers rather small, but abundantly produced from fall through spring. Dark green foliage on a shrubby grower to about 3 feet tall. Native of the mountains of Mexico (state of Coahuila), above 6000 feet. Hardiness untested here. Zones 8-11.
Salvia amplexicaulis. Rosette-former with dark blue-purple flowers in spikes to 18 inches tall. Long flowering period through summer and fall.
Salvia aurea, (Yellow Sage). Brownish-yellow blooms. Plants here grow about 1' tall, with rounded, gray leaves. May grow 3-4' tall if frost is light. Fall bloom. South Africa. Marginally hardy here. Zones 9-11.
Salvia azurea, (Native Blue Sage). 6' native plant with long spikes of sky blue flowers in late summer. Hardy; full sun to half shade. Central states of U.S.; Zones 4-9.
Salvia ballotaefolia, (Horehound-Leaf Sage). Shrub with small leaves, roughly triangular in outline, light green. Height 4 feet. Flowers blue, in spring and summer. Zones 8-11.
Salvia blepharophylla, (Eyelash Leaf Sage). Large red flowers on 2-3' tall, spreading plants, with highly aromatic, glossy leaves. Hardiness untested here, though red flowered salvias usually aren't particularly hardy. Requires some shade. Zones 9-11.
Salvia Buchananii, (Buchanan's Sage). Shade-loving tender sage with glossy, elliptic, 2-inch leaves and rosy-purple 2-inch flowers all summer and fall. Height about 2 feet. Provide excellent drainage. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 154x250 pixels / 13.7KB)
Salvia cacaliaefolia , (Gentian Leaf Sage). Semi-vining sage, with gentian-blue flowers. Grows to 6 feet long in partial shade. Tender. Zones 9-11.
Salvia canariensis, (Silver Arrowhead Sage). 4" arrowhead-shaped leaves, and silvery white-woolly stems. Large lavender flowers on short spikes in late summer and fall. Bushy plants to 3' tall and wide. Provide excellent drainage. Zones 9-11.
Salvia cardinalis, (Cardinal Sage). Look-alike cousin to S. elegans. Similar red flowers as well as similar looking foliage, but without the pineapple scent. To make up for it, the flowering period is much longer (summer to fall). Hardiness untested here; probably Zones 9-11.
Salvia coccinea, (Texas Scarlet Sage). Fiery red flowers all summer. Reseeds itself, which is nice, because it is rarely hardy here. Full sun to partial shade; well drained soils. 4-5' tall. SC to FL, west to TX and Mexico. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 310x450 pixels / 38KB)
Salvia coccinea 'Alba'. Pure white form of the Texas Scarlet Sage. Seedlings generally come true. Culture same as species. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 322x446 pixels / 37KB)
Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'. Seed strain offering coral colored blooms on compact plants.
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' is a seed strain of the Texas Scarlet Sage, which remains more compact, growing perhaps 2' tall. Zones 9-11.
Salvia coccinea 'Orange Sunset'. Selection from Native Texas Nursery in Austin, offering peachy-orange blooms on 4' plants.
Salvia coccinea 'Peach'. Our selection of the peachy pink form of the Texas Scarlet Sage. In gardens where the red and white forms are planted close together, some of the seedlings will be peach-colored. (Image / JPEG / 199x294 pixels / 20.7KB)
Salvia confertiflora, (Red Velvet Sage). Spikes of dark coral red ½" flowers in late summer to fall; the flower stems and bracts are of dark red velvet. Brazil. Tender here. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 288x363 pixels / 26KB)
Salvia elegans : LAMIACEAE, (Pineapple Sage). Pretty plant with bright red, edible fall flowers, and the most excellent pineapple scent. Bushy plants grow about 4' tall, with a similar spread. Mexico. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 340x300 pixels / 44KB)
Salvia elegans 'Freida Dixon', (Pink Pineapple Sage). Pretty plant with pink, edible fall flowers, and the most excellent pineapple scent. Bushy plants grow about 4' tall, with a similar spread. Mexico. Zones 8-11.
Salvia fallax. Shrubby 5-foot native of the mountains of Sinaloa, Mexico. Blue flowers and attractive foliage. Zones 8-11.
Salvia fulgens, (Shining Red Sage). Red flowers on 3' plants. Good grower. From the mountains of the state of Durango, Mexico, above 6500 ft. Zones 8-11.
Salvia gesneraeflora. From the mountains of Durango, Mexico, comes this sage with aromatic foliage and red flowers in fall. One of the parents, with S. guaranitica, of Salvia 'Purple Majesty'. Zones 8b-11.
Salvia 'Giant Sage' (Salvia guaranitica 'Costa Rica Blue') is huge, growing to 7', with giant blue-purple flowers in late summer and fall. Hardy here. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 596x315 pixels / 25KB)
Salvia glechomifolia. Half-inch blue flowers from spring through fall. Plants grow only about one foot tall, spreading with their lax growth to about two feet wide. Shade tolerant. Hardy here to 7° F. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 446x351 pixels / 36.9KB)
Salvia Grahamii 'Purple' (S. microphylla), (Purple Graham's Sage). Low-growing (2'), shrubby, aromatic sage with ¾-inch rosy purple flowers from midsummer to frost. Flowers best in the cooler weather of fall. From the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental in the Mexican state of Zacatecas. Zones 8b-11.
Salvia Grahamii 'Red' (S. microphylla), (Red Graham's Sage). Low-growing (2'), shrubby, aromatic sage with ¾-inch red flowers from midsummer to frost. Flowers best in the cooler weather of fall. From the mountains of Mexico. Zones 8b-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Big Pink', (Big Pink Autumn Sage). Large deep pink flowers on compact, shrubby plants. Height about 2 feet. Blooms sporadically through the summer and heavily in autumn. Texas. Zones 7-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Cienego D'Oro', (Yellow Autumn Sage). Yellow flowers on shrubby plants. Height about 2 feet. Blooms sporadically through the summer and heavily in autumn. The species is a native of Texas. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 404x418 pixels / 48KB)
Salvia Greggii 'Dwarf Pink', (Dwarf Pink Autumn Sage). Pink flowers on low-growing, spreading plants. Height about one foot. Blooms sporadically through the summer and heavily in autumn. Zones 7-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Furman's Red', (Furman's Red Autumn Sage). Bright red flowers. Plants are shrubby and compact. Height 2 feet. Excellent bloomer. Zones 8-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Maraschino', (Maraschino Autumn Sage). Glowing deep red. Height 4 feet. Excellent bloomer and strong grower here. Zones 7-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Plum Wine', (Plum Wine Autumn Sage). Plum-purple flowers on compact plants. Blooms intermittently in summer, heavier in autumn. Partial shade to full sun; well-drained soil; alkaline-tolerant. Height to 2 feet. Texas Zones 7b-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Rose', (Rose Autumn Sage). Rose-pink. Zones 8-11.
Salvia Greggii 'Sierra San Antonio' (Bicolor Autumn Sage). Red buds open to reveal yellow flowers; the outside of the flowers are red at the base when open. Narrow-leaved form showing compact growth habit. Height to 2 feet. Zones 7b-11.
Salvia Greggii x blepharophylla 'Cherry Queen', (Cherry Queen Autumn Sage). Hybrid with good humidity tolerance. Red flowers late summer and fall; better bloom in fall. Compact plants grow less than 3' tall. Zones 8-11.
Salvia Greggii x lycioides, (Lavender Autumn Sage). Late summer and fall bloomer, with 1" lavender-purple flowers. Plants generally grow about 18" tall, spreading 2' or more. Small leaves; edible flower. Natural hybrid from Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Zones (7)8-11.
Salvia Greggii x microphylla 'Red Velvet', (Red Velvet Sage). Excellent hybrid with large bright red flowers and shiny, rounded leaves. Height 3 feet. Blooms well from late summer to frost. Zones 7-11.
Salvia guaranitica, (Anise Sage). Excellent perennial offers electric blue flowers which attract hummingbirds. Flowers from early summer to frost, forming broad bushy masses to 4' tall or more; rhizomatous. Hardy and dependable. This is probably the best hardy Salvia we grow! Zones 6-11. Full sun to half shade; provide good winter drainage. (Image / JPEG / 540x418 pixels / 37KB)
Salvia guaranitica 'Argentina Skies'. Light dusky blue flowers on 4' plants. The flower color is different and rather attractive; nice contrast to S. guaranitica, or other sages. Zones 6-11.
Salvia haematodes (S. pratensis), (Meadow Clary). Lavender to purple flowers in spikes from a basal rosette. Height 2'. Give good drainage in sun or partial shade. Europe, Morocco. Zones 6-9.
Salvia 'Indigo Spires'. Shrubby perennial with very showy deep blue flowers in very long spikes (to 2'), with showy, persistent bracts. Everblooming in temperament, growing to 4½' tall and nearly as wide. Mulch well in winter, and provide good drainage and protection from late frosts - the work being well worth it. Can be grown as an annual, as it's not always hardy here - has survived temperatures as low as 7° F . Zones 8-11.
Salvia involucrata, (Rosy-Leaf Sage). Balls of pink give rise to 2" pink flowers in late summer and fall. Tall plants grow to 6' or more; rather coarse, sparingly branched; sometimes sprawling. Mexico and Central America. Zones 8b-11.
Salvia involucrata 'Bethelii'. Dusty-mauve calyxes in balls, with pink flowers. Height 5', spreading to 4'. Reliable and showy fall bloomer. Zones 8b-11. (Image / JPEG / 570x474 pixels / 42KB)
Salvia iodantha, (Mexican Fuchsia Sage). Purplish red 1½" flowers in long spikes at the top of 6' plants in late fall. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 421x317 pixels / 41KB)
Salvia Karwinskii, (Karwinski's Sage). Large-leaved sage with an upright, bushy habit. Height 4 feet or more. Red flowers in autumn. Zones 9-11.
Salvia Lemmonii, (Lemmon's Littleleaf Sage). One of the hardiest of the red American Salvias. Height to 3 or 4 feet, spreading to 3'. Sun or partial shade. Southern Arizona to Sonora, Mexico. Zones 6-10.
Salvia leucantha, (Mexican Bush Sage). Erect shrubby perennial to 4' with silver backed linear leaves and silver woolly stems. Long spikes of white flowers protruding from fuzzy purple bracts in late summer. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 535x417 pixels / 56KB) (Image / JPEG / 522x347 pixels / 46.3KB)
Salvia leucantha 'All Purple' Erect shrubby perennial to 4' with silver backed linear leaves and silver woolly stems. Long spikes of purple flowers protruding from fuzzy purple bracts in late summer. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 280x341 pixels / 44KB)
Salvia littae, (Litta Purple Sage). Bushy two-foot plants with smallish leaves produce fuzzy purple flowers late in the fall. Spreads by layering. Oaxaca, Mexico. Zones 9-11.
Salvia lyrata, (Lyre-Leafed Sage, Cancer Weed). Native sage with a reputation for success in treating cancer. Lyre-shaped, patterned leaves in rosettes; soft blue sage flowers on leafless spikes in late spring, to 18" tall. Beautiful foliage when out of flower. Likes drier soils with good drainage - good hillside plant. Seeds about readily. Zones 6-9. (Image / JPEG / 410x506 pixels / 41.2KB)
Salvia madrensis, (Forsythia Sage). Winged stems and broad, heart-shaped leaves, with spikes of large, butter yellow flowers on 12" spikes. Hardy here. Height to 6', flowering in the fall. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 450x377 pixels / 49KB)
Salvia mexicana, (Mexican Salvia). Forms broad shrubs to 5' tall and at least as wide, with large purple flowers from dark purple calyces in the fall. Needs total darkness at night to begin flowering - even a streetlight may delay bloom. Hardy here. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 204x450 pixels / 28KB)
Salvia mexicana 'Compton's', (Compton's Mexican Salvia). Excellent selection with large, shiny, very dark green leaves. The plant itself is extremely impressive; certainly a focal point of the fall garden. Height 6 feet. More upright and a little less spreading than the species. The very dark, almost black calyces hold large purple flowers in the fall; calyces persist well after flowers fade. Zones 8-11. (Image / JPEG / 204x450 pixels / 28KB)
Salvia mexicana 'Lollie Jackson'. Selection made for darker green leaves than the species. Zones 8-11.
Salvia microphylla 'Deltoid', (Littleleaf Sage). Pink flowers; very floriferous. Leaves roughly triangular and small to medium in size. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 605x511 pixels / 53KB)
Salvia microphylla 'Dieciocho de Marzo'. Fairly large-leaved form with bright pink flowers. Height 2½ feet or slightly more. Zones 7-11.
Salvia microphylla 'Hoja Grande'. Large-leaved form (to 2 inches or more across). Hot pink flowers; very good bloomer. Height to 3 feet. Zones 7-11.
Salvia microphylla 'La Trinidad Pink'. Bright pink.
Salvia microphylla var. Neurepia. Pink form with somewhat pebbly leaves; compact. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 385x254 pixels / 28.9KB) (Image (Closeup) / JPEG / 483x463 pixels / 43.2KB)
Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos Festival'. Hot pink; compact growth.
Salvia microphylla 'Scott's Red' Bright red flowers. Plants are shrubby and compact. Height 2 feet or less. Excellent bloomer. Zones 8-11.
Salvia miniata, (Belize Sage). Many bright red 2" flowers from early summer to frost. Glossy foliage demands shade. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 480x580 pixels / 36KB)
Salvia 'Omaha' Lightly variegated form of Salvia 'Giant Sage'. Leaves are margined with lighter green; best variegation in good light on new leaves. Flowers large, dark blue. Height 5 feet. Zones 7-11.
Salvia Oresbia (S. Darcyi), (Galeana Red Sage). Spreading plants with deltoid leaves and red 2" late summer and fall flowers in 12" spikes. Height to 2½ feet. Drought tolerant. Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Zones 7-11.
Salvia prunelloides. Low growing plants with 1", shiny leaves and a bushy, spreading habit. Dark blue flowers in short spikes in fall. Zones 7-11.
Salvia puberula (Hidalgo). Scarcely distinct from S. involucrata, this has similar foliage and involucres of pretty pink flowers. Zones 8b-11.
Salvia puberula x Karwinskii. Hybrid with characteristics mostly like S. Karwinskii. Flowers red. Zones 9-11.
Salvia x 'Purple Majesty' is similar to S. guaranitica, but has purple flowers and is a larger plant. Excellent performer in partial shade. Hardy here. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 411x289 pixels / 23KB)
Salvia purpurea, (Mexican Purple Sage). Five foot plants produce spikes of lavender flowers in late fall. Hardy here to 22°F. Zones 8b-11.
Salvia regla is the Regal or Royal Sage. This shrub has large orange red flowers in late summer and fall, with occasional spring bloom; hardy here. Small, round light green leaves. Height to 4'. Wait until spring to cut plants back, as tops are usually hardy. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 526x480 pixels / 55.2KB)
Salvia regla 'Hidalgo'. Redder flowers than the species, with a bushy habit and pebbly leaves. Hidalgo, Mexico. Zones 7-11.
Salvia uliginosa, (Bog Sage). Beautiful sky blue morning flowers on thin stems atop 5' plants. (Overall height may reach 6'). Hardy plant native to areas with a moister soil than most Salvias, but grows well in ordinary garden soil, spreading underground. One of our favorites. Zones 7-11. (Image / JPEG / 402x383 pixels / 45KB)
Salvia urica (Blue Bush Sage) has wide hairy leaves and dark blue flowers after midsummer. Oddly scented foliage. Purple flowers. Tender here. Zones 9-11.
Salvia Vanhouttei. (Vanhoutte's Brazil Sage). Red flowers protrude from long lasting wine red bracts in summer and fall. Shrubby grower to 3-4', often wider than tall. Not reliably hardy here (to 25°F or so, but varies). Brazil. Zones 9-11. (Image / JPEG / 403x388 pixels / 48KB)
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This page most recently updated March 16, 2000.
