What are Salvias?
Salvia plants, also known as sages, are a genus of flowering shrubs and perennials in the mint family. Additionally, they have tiny tube-shaped flowers that grow along spikes. And perennial salvia plants usually have velvety-soft leaves. What are the benefits of growing salvia plants? Here are just a few!
Salvia plants attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.Most salvia varieties are easy to grow and need little maintenance.Salvias add pleasing fragrances to the garden.
1. Blue Sage (Salvia azurea)
The blue sage plant is a perennial salvia that grows 3-5 feet tall and produces pale blue spike flowers in mid-summer. The foliage of this upright plant is sage green with long, thin leaves. In addition, the blue sage is a fragrant plant that thrives in sunny garden beds. Botanical name: Salvia azurea Common names: blue sage, azure blue sage, pitcher sage Plant type: herbaceous perennial Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9 Bloom seasons: summer to fall Mature plant size: up to 5 feet tall, 4 feet wide Sun exposure: full sun Water and soil needs: medium-moist, well-drained soil Bloom colors: light blue
2. Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)
The Mexican bush sage is a low-maintenance, long-flowering salvia that produces deep purple spike flowers with white tips. Mexican bush sage is one of the best perennial salvias that come back every year because of how huge it can get! What’s more, this fast-growing salvia reaches up to 6 feet tall and has velvety grey leaves. The Mexican bush sage is a drought-tolerant plant that blooms from late summer into fall and can tolerate partial shade. In addition, this salvia plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds! Botanical name: Salvia leucantha Common names: Mexican bush sage, Mexican sage, velvet sage Plant type: herbaceous perennial Hardiness Zones: 8 to 10 Bloom seasons: summer to fall Mature plant size: up to 6 feet tall, 6-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun or partial sun Water and soil needs: low to medium-moist, well-drained soil Bloom colors: deep purple with white tips (bi-color)
3. Meadow Sage (Salvia pratensis)
The meadow sage produces violet-blue (cultivar ‘Indigo’) or soft pink (cultivar ‘Pink Delight’) spike flowers, depending on the variety you grow. Also, meadow sage has dark green leaves and blooms in mid to late summer. This pretty salvia grows up to 4 feet tall and wide and has dark green leaves. Additionally, the meadow sage needs full sun exposure and thrives in medium-moist soil. Botanical name: Salvia pratensis Common names: meadow sage, wild clary, meadow clary Plant type: herbaceous perennial Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8 Bloom seasons: summer to fall Mature plant size: up to 3 feet tall, 3-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun Water and soil needs: dry to medium moist, well-drained soil Bloom colors: violet-blue, pink
4. Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens)
The scarlet sage is a showy salvia that produces bright red stalk flowers that really pop in a garden bed. This vibrant red salvia is perfect for cutting gardens or anywhere you want some cardinal-colored brilliance. Scarlet sage grows up to 2 feet tall and has bright green foliage. And it blooms from late spring to the first frost, providing a long flowering season. As you can imagine, hummingbirds love the scarlet sage’s red, trumpet-shaped blooms. But hummingbirds are also attracted to the new cultivars of Salvia splendens that come in additional colors like blue, lavender, pink, and white. The scarlet sage is a tender perennial in its hardiness zones but grown as an annual flower in colder zones. Botanical name: Salvia splendens Common names: scarlet sage, scarlet bedding sage Plant type: herbaceous tender perennial Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11 (annual in colder regions) Bloom seasons: late spring to fall Mature plant size: up to 3 feet tall, 1-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun to partial sun Water and soil needs: low moisture, humus-rich, and well-drained soil Bloom colors: bright red (other colors available via various cultivars)
5. Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)
Another scarlet-red salvia, the tropical sage is a tender perennial that produces striking flowers with rich color. It has bright green foliage and delicate, tube-like blooms. Like other salvias, the tropical sage blooms bring hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden. This beautiful plant is known for being one of the best perennial salvias that come back every year because of its many tasty seeds. Fortunately for birds, tropical sage offers lots of seeds in its calyxes. These seeds make a wonderful snack for finches like the American goldfinch. Tropical sage thrives in sandy soil with a low to medium moisture level, so it’s definitely a drought-tolerant plant. Best suited for full sun, tropical sage grows up to 36 inches tall and blooms from summer to fall. Botanical name: Salvia coccinea Common names: tropical sage, blood sage, scarlet sage Plant type: herbaceous tender perennial Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11 Bloom seasons: summer to frost Mature plant size: up to 3 feet tall, with a 2-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun, partial sun Water and soil needs: dry to moist, well-drained sandy soil Bloom colors: bright red
6. Cardinal Sage (Salvia fulgens)
Rich and velvety-red flowers are the cardinal sage’s calling card. This salvia plant’s bright scarlet blooms stand out against its dark green foliage. However, the cardinal sage is slightly different from other salvias because it’s a subshrub (dwarf shrub) with bushy growth and heart-shaped leaves. In addition, the cardinal sage is a woody perennial that will come back every year. Cardinal sage blooms from mid-summer to fall and grows 3-5 feet tall with a 3-foot spread. Moreover, it’s an excellent showy plant for vibrant color in your garden. Botanical name: Salvia fulgens Common names: cardinal sage, Mexican scarlet sage, Mexican red sage Plant type: evergreen subshrub and woody perennial Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12 Bloom seasons: mid-summer to the first frost Mature plant size: up to 5 feet tall, 3-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun to partial sun Water and soil needs: moderately moist, well-draining hummus-rich soil Bloom colors: bright red
7. Blue Anise Sage (Salvia guaranitica)
Ornamental and anise-scented, the blue anise sage brings regal blue and a pleasing aroma to your garden. This salvia has delicate blue flowers that bloom from summer to fall. Also, if you grow the cultivar called ‘Black and Blue’ your plants will have fragrant deep-blue blooms contrasting beautifully with black stems. Blue anise sage is a tender perennial with 2-inch long blooms and grows up to 5 feet tall. In addition, it’s excellent for adding late-season color to your garden or in borders and containers. So if you love plants that smell like licorice, blue anise sages are one of the best perennial salvias for your garden! Botanical name: Salvia guaranitica Common names: blue anise sage, Brazilian sage, Costa Rican blue sage Plant type: herbaceous perennial and ornamental subshrub Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11 Bloom seasons: summer and fall Mature plant size: up to 5 feet tall, 5-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun Water and soil needs: moderately moist, well-draining soil Bloom colors: deep blue
8. Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)
The pineapple sage plant brings tropical essence to your garden with its pineapple-scented foliage and brilliant red blooms. This salvia is a tender perennial that grows up to 5 feet tall, with long stalks of red flowers in late summer. Additionally, pineapple sage plants have tiny hairs that make them look fuzzy. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees love the pretty blooms of the pineapple sage, adding even more interest to the plant. Unfortunately, pineapple sage is such a late bloomer in the growing season that it might go dormant before gardeners can enjoy its flowers. However, this salvia’s foliage is beautiful and sweet-smelling from summer to fall. Pineapple sage prefers full sun and moist soil. As a result, it’s a great choice for warmer climates or containers where you can easily control its water needs. Botanical name: Salvia elegans Common names: pineapple sage Plant type: herbaceous perennial and subshrub Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11 Bloom seasons: late summer to fall Mature plant size: up to 5 feet tall, with a 5-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun, partial sun Water and soil needs: moist, well-draining soil Bloom colors: bright red
9. White Sage (Salvia apiana)
Prevalent in Southern California, white sage is a woody shrub that offers lovely gray-green foliage and tiny white blooms. This salvia is a perennial subshrub that grows up to 100 white flowers on each spike! White sage has an upright growth habit, growing 3-5 feet tall with a 5-foot spread. And if you love the smell of sage, this plant will knock your socks off with its wonderful aroma. In addition, you’ll have loads of pollinators visiting your plants, too. With its attractive foliage and scented flowers, white sage has been used for centuries in medical and spiritual practices. In addition, the scented leaves have a wonderful calming scent and have been historically used to make incense and teas. Please note: A-Z Animals does not recommend plants or herbs for medicinal or health use. Instead, we present the following information for academic and historical purposes only. White sage prefers full sun, but it can handle growing in partial shade if given consistent moisture. However, don’t overwater this plant! Unfortunately, too much water or fertilizer can cause the plant’s foliage to burn or its blooms to fade. Botanical name: Salvia apiana Common names: white sage, bee sage, sacred white sage, California white sage Plant type: evergreen subshrub and herbaceous perennial Hardiness zones: 8 to 11 Bloom seasons: spring Mature plant size: up to 3-5 feet tall, up to a 5-foot spread Sun exposure: full sun to partial shade Water and soil needs: moderately moist, well-draining soil Bloom colors: white flowers with gray-green foliage
10. Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Common sage is an herbaceous perennial with silvery-green leaves and showy lilac or blue flowers. This salvia grows up to 33 inches tall and wide, with individual branches reaching 10 inches long. Also, it’s one of the best perennial salvias that come back every year because of its many uses! This wonderfully fragrant plant is perfect for a cook’s garden. Moreover, common sage is historically used for culinary purposes (a key ingredient in stuffing, for example) and herbal teas. Please note: A-Z Animals does not recommend plants or herbs for medicinal or health use. Instead, we present the following information for academic and historical purposes only. Common sage plants grow best in full sun with low to medium moisture and well-draining soil. Botanical name: Salvia officinalis Common names: common sage, culinary sage, garden sage Plant type: herbaceous perennial Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8 Bloom seasons: late spring to early summer Mature plant size: up to 3 feet tall, 3 feet wide Sun exposure: full sun to light shade Water and soil needs: medium-moist, well-draining soil Bloom colors: blue or lilac flowers with silvery green foliage
5 Planting Tips for Perennial Salvias
Here are five easy tips for growing salvia in your home garden.
Growing the Best Perennial Salvias That Come Back Every Year Is Rewarding!
Perennial salvias are aromatic and easy to grow, making them a rewarding addition to any garden or landscape. Plus, with their showy flowers and attractive foliage, salvias provide a stunning display of color year spring to fall. With proper care and maintenance, salvia plants thrive for many years and require minimal effort from you!
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