Salvia
[SAL-vee-ah]

Deciduous Perennial in the Lamiaceae Family
 

About Sages

Perennial Salvias (also known as “sage”) are mainstays of the midsummer garden border—blooming summer to autumn! Planted in the spring, these aromatic beauties are great for cutting and beloved by bees and butterflies. They are also drought-tolerant.

Part of the mint family (Lamiaceae), salvias appear as a colorful spike of densely-packed flowers with tubular blossoms atop square stems and velvety leaves. Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. 

Hummingbirds and butterflies love salvia’s tubular flowers and they’re adored by bees, too, so plant them if you wish to attract these pretty pollinators!

Fortunately, salvia does not tend to attract deer or rabbits. It is the distinctive, pungent odor of their leaves that acts as a repellent to garden pests.

 
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 48 inches tall. 12 - 48 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Salvias are relatively heat and drought tolerant, although regular watering encourages continuous blooming from early summer until frost.
Zones 4a - 10b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period May - October
Animals That Use It

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Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Verbena, dahlia, zinnia, Shasta daisy, petunia, marigold, goldenrod, day lilies, daffodils, coreopsis and others that enjoy sunny locations and well-drained soil.

Photos of This with...

Tri-Color Beech, Margarita Sweet Potato Vine, Russian Sage, Coneflower,
 

Salvia Available Now

Marcus Salvia
(Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus')
From $10.58

Eveline Meadow Clary
(Salvia pratensis 'Eveline')
From $70.65

Victoria Blue Mealycup Sage
(Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue')
From $44.25

Black and Blue Anise-Scented Sage
(Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue')
From $44.25

Caradonna Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna')
From $10.58

East Friesland Meadow Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' EAST FRIESLAND)
From $8.48
Rose Wine Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Rosenwein' ROSE WINE)
From $10.27

May Night Wood Sage
(Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht' MAY NIGHT)
From $8.48

Snow Hill Wood Sage
(Salvia x sylvestris 'Schneehugel' SNOW HILL)
From $62.01

Purple Rain Lilac Sage
(Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain')
From $62.01

Wesuwe Sage
(Salvia x sylvestris 'Wesuwe')
From $9.29

Mystic Spires Sage
(Salvia haematodes 'Mystic Spires Blue')
From $62.55

Playin' the Blues Salvia
(Salvia 'Rockin' Playin' the Blues')
From $33.75

Color Spires Crystal Blue Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Crystal Blue')
From $11.58

Friendship Sage
(Salvia 'Amistad')
From $72.00

Color Spires Violet Riot Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Violet Riot')
From $85.41

Blue Marvel Salvia
(Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Marvel')
From $66.15

Color Spires Pink Dawn Salvia
(Salvia nemorosa 'Pink Dawn')
From $11.58

Lyrical White Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Florsalwhite' LYRICAL WHITE)
From $62.01

Bumbleberry Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleberry')
From $67.41

Rose Marvel Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Rose Marvel')
From $10.58

Midnight Candle Salvia
(Salvia farinacea 'Midnight Candle')
From $44.25

Mysty Salvia
(Salvia 'Mysty')
From $44.25

Vista Red Scarlet Sage
(Salvia splendens 'Vista Red')
From $44.25

Salvatore Blue Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Salvatore Blue')
From $10.58

Color Spires Pink Profusion Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Pink Profusion')
From $15.54

Unplugged So Blue Mealycup Sage
(Salvia farinacea 'Unplugged So Blue')
From $33.75

Rockin' Blue Suede Shoes Salvia
(Salvia 'Rockin' Blue Suede Shoes')
From $33.75

Rockin' Deep Purple Salvia
(Salvia 'Rockin' Deep Purple')
From $33.75
Love And Wishes Sage
(Salvia 'Love And Wishes')
From $68.63

Skyscraper Orange Salvia
(Salvia x 'HYBSV18020' SKYSCRAPER ORANGE)
From $60.75
Skyscraper Pink Salvia
(Salvia x 'HYBSV16017' SKYSCRAPER PINK)
From $60.75

Sixteen Candles Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Sixteen Candles')
From $10.58

Roman Red Salvia
(Salvia splendens 'Roman Red')
From $74.25

Sallyfun Deep Ocean Salvia
(Salvia farinacea 'Sallyfun Deep Ocean')
From $44.25

Purple and Bloom Anise-Scented Sage
(Salvia guaranitica 'Purple and Bloom')
From $59.85

Skyscraper Dark Purple Salvia
(Salvia x 'HYBSV16016' Skyscraper Dark Purple)
From $60.75

Blue By You Sage
(Salvia 'Blue By You')
From $83.64

Unplugged Pink Mealycup Sage
(Salvia farinacea 'Unplugged Pink')
From $43.95
May Night Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Mainacht')
From $65.85

Blue Hill Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Hill')
From $57.60

Plum Crazy Anise-Scented Sage
(Salvia guaranitica 'Plum Crazy')
From $59.85

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Limited Availability

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Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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