SALVIA. Sage. Worldwide. This is a huge and diverse group of mint allies, grown both for ornament and for herbal qualities. Those listed below are undemanding perennials and shrubs with usually rough-textured, aromatic leaves. Some form broad rosettes of basal leaves; others have branched, leafy stems. Usually the leaves are paired along the stems. Irregular 2-lipped flowers are borne in dense heads, whorls or spikes above the foliage. They come in nearly every floral shade, including near-black. Culture and hardiness vary widely, though most prefer a sunny spot with well drained soil. Many, particularly natives of California and the Southwest, are drought tolerant.
argentea. This is a revival of an old offering. The plants are notable for their broad, toothed, white-hairy basal leaves, which lie close against the ground. The leaves are individually up to a foot long. In summer, branched flower stalks rise 2-3' above the foliage, displaying many white flowers. These may go almost unnoticed against the wool of the stems. The plants may die after seeding; quickly removing the flower stems will prolong their life by at least a year or two. They need full exposure and are best on a bank or slope. 20oF or less.
azurea var. grandiflora (S. azurea ssp. pitcheri var. grandiflora). An erect, slender stemmed perennial up to 5’ tall, with narrow, grey-hairy leaves. It blooms mostly in late summer, carrying dozens of ½" blossoms in a narrow spike at each shoot tip. The flowers are colored pale to rather dark, true blue. This strain is particularly floriferous, with deep flower color. Reputedly hardy to 0oF. or less.
blepharophylla. Mexico. A brittle semi-shrub growing about 18" high. It forms small colonies from underground rhizomes and branches from the base. The leaves are narrowly oval, about 2" long and deep green in color. Loose clusters of bright red flowers, each nearly 1" broad, are displayed above the foliage in summer and fall. 20oF. or less.
buchananii. Another Mexican sage (there are so many), with several erect, branched and very brittle stems to 2’ high from a woody base. The leaves are up to 3" long, deep green and quite glossy. Elevated well above them in open, interrupted clusters are large, vivid reddish purple blossoms. It flowers most of the year in mild climates. About 20oF.
cacaliaefolia. A “relaxed” semishrub, with sprawling stems which take root where they touch the ground to make mounds up to 3' high and 6' or more broad. The stems are lined by triangular bright green leaves, 1-3" long. It is nearly everblooming near the coast, producing clusters of bright, true blue flowers, each a little over an inch long, at every shoot tip. Its hardiness is not well tested; assume 20-25oF.
chiapensis. Though almost too tender to recommend as a plant for the open garden, this is one of the prettiest of the Mexican salvias. It is only 1-2’ high, with spreading, freely branched stems lined by nearly heart-shaped leaves. The leaves are dark green and have a satiny surface. In summer and fall (sometimes for most of the year) it carries many narrowly tubular flowers, deep purplish pink in color, on slender stalks at the shoot tips. About 25oF.
chionophylla. A prostrate and ground-covering salvia with furry whitish stems closely lined by 3/4" grey-green leaves. The stems root as they travel, making it potentially useful as a bank cover (also potentially invasive in the garden). Small bright blue flowers are clustered at the shoot tips in summer. 20-25oF.
coccinea. A fairly short-lived perennial which, however, does an admirable job of self-sowing. Fortunately the seedlings are easy to rogue out where they are not wanted. It grows bushy and erect to 2-3’. Both the stems and the broadly oval 1-2", dark green leaves are densely hairy. Beginning in late spring—and with occasional shearing of spent stems, continuing through fall—it produces a profusion of brightly colored 1" blossoms in dense spikes with decorative bracts. Flowers of ‘Lady in Red’ are bright scarlet in color. Those of ‘Coral Nymph’ are soft coral pink. ‘Snow Nymph’ has pure white flowers. The plants in each case are about 2’ tall. Hardy to 15-20oF., resprouting and erect. Lining them are lance shaped, heavily textured leaves up to 8" long. The leaves have an unpleasant scent when bruised, unlike those of most salvias. In late summer and fall it carries many long clusters of furry, dark orange flowers above the foliage. Probably 20oF or less, though the tops are easily frost-burned.
darcyi. A robust plant, making many upsweeping 3’ stems from the base. The leaves are about 2“ long, broad, resinous and light green in color. Stunning bright red flowers are borne many to each long cluster at the shoot tips. Though it has a subtropical look, it is said by the folks at Yucca Do Nursery in Texas to have weathered 4oF.
elegans. Pineapple sage. I have abandoned efforts with the typical form of this species, though I consider it a fine garden sage. However, for those intimidated by its size and vigor, the selection ‘Compacta’ should provide a much more manageable alternative. It is a bushy plant of 2-3', the stems closely lined by pairs of nearly round, pineapple-scented 2" leaves. Slender blooming stems carry many tubular, bright red blossoms in summer and fall. A more recent acquisition, from Jon Dixon, is ‘Frieda Dixon’. It grows more upright, like the typical form, but is dense and well-behaved. The flowers are painted a beautiful coral pink. Both should be root-hardy to 18oF or less, though the tops are damaged at around 25oF.
forskaohlei. This seems to be the current name for plants previously listed as S. hians. For some reason, the plants show little interest in the change. These are, as always, robust perennials with basal crowns of roughly heart shaped, blunt-tipped, furry leaves up to 8" long. In summer they send up branched 2’ stems carrying long clusters of showy violet flowers, marked with white. Moderate to occasional watering. About 0oF.
glechomaefolia. This is a pleasant little plant, never making quite the spectacle of some salvias but always neat and pretty. It makes a slowly spreading mat from underground rhizomes, with erect, leafy shoots up to 1' high. The leaves are bright green and softly shiny. Small violet flowers with white markings are borne in interrupted clusters above the foliage, throughout the summer and well into fall. This salvia thrives in a protected spot and will even bloom well in part shade. Its hardiness is not well tested; probably 20oF or less.
guaranitica. This robust South American species has given us some of the best of the large garden salvias. It is a semi-shrubby perennial, with several stems from the base, branched above to create a full, lush globe or dome up to 6' tall. The leaves are narrowly heart shaped, up to 3" long, and conspicuously veined. Some selections begin blooming in mid spring, others in summer, both continuing until frost. 2" blossoms, ranging in color from true blue to violet, open in succession from long clusters. There are unnamed forms with medium to deep blue flowers. ‘Argentina Skies’ is a particularly bushy selection with bright green leaves and sky blue flowers. ‘Omaha Gold’ has large leaves irregularly margined in lighter green to greenish yellow (not gold) and large blue-violet flowers. Moderate to regular watering. Ultimately hardy to 20oF or less, though the tops are easily burned by frost.
‘Indigo Blue’. I am in mystery about this plant—even its source. It is a slender-stemmed shrublet, growing about 2’ high, with slender stems and nearly heart-shaped 1" leaves. The leaves have a deep, netted vein pattern and are bright to deep green above, nearly white beneath. Bright blue-violet ½” blossoms open in succession on long stalks above the foliage, summer and fall. 20-25oF. (we are waiting for the acid test).
involucrata. Though probably not for the small city garden (it should fill at least a 6' x 6' space), this is otherwise a plant every salvia lover should have. It is stout and bushy, with a lush covering of 3" dark, velvety leaves. In late summer and fall clusters of large rose-colored flowers with decorative bracts are borne at each shoot tip. Sun or light shade, most soils, moderate watering. Hardy to 20oF or less.
leucantha. Mexican bush sage. A bushy perennial which spreads underground to form dense colonies. The stems are 2-3' tall and covered with white wool. Closely lining them are long, narrow greyish green leaves. A striking contrast is created from late spring to fall by 1-2' flower stems densely covered with purple-rose hairs and displaying clusters of—in our traditional selection—rosy purple flowers (the typical flower color is white). ‘Eder’ is a sport discovered recently at the nursery by Leonel Morales. It has leaves irregularly margined in creamy yellow, and the same rosy purple flowers as “mama” plant. Winter deciduous (or more precisely, burned down by frost, then reappearing from the rootstock in spring). Most soils, moderate to little watering. About 15oF.
madrensis. Beautiful though potentially overwhelming in a small garden. It spreads by underground rhizomes to make broad thickets (simply pull out young stems where they're not wanted). Conspicuously angled stems rise 8' or more from the ground, bearing deeply textured, elongated heart shaped leaves up to 6" long, with stalks of equal length. In fall and winter the plant glows with golden yellow blossoms, each a little over an inch long, opening in succession along 1-2' stalks. Probably 15oF or less, though the tops are damaged at 25oF.
moorcroftiana. Himalaya. A rosette-forming perennial with broad basal leaves up to 10" long. The leaves are fuzzy and blue-green above, often white-woolly below. In spring, whorled clusters of light blue flowers are spaced along branched stalks up to 3’ high. Hardy to around 10oF.
muelleri. Closely related to and generally resembling S. greggii (see above), this is a lower, more spreading shrub. I would estimate the size of the current selection at 3' x 6'+ at maturity. It has slender, closely branched stems and narrow 1-2" leaves. From spring to fall it is sprinkled with short clusters of beautiful violet blossoms. Probably hardy to 15oF or less.
nemorosa. Europe to central Asia. A hardy species with branched leafy stems up to 3’ high (less in most cultivars and hybrids). The leaves are oval to lance-shaped, dark green to grey-green and hairy. Small, usually purple flowers are clustered on long branched stalks at the shoot tips. It has been hybridized extensively to give us the S. x superba series described below. ‘Plumosa’ is claimed to belong to the species itself. It has compact clumps of 2’ stems with grey-green leaves and large, dense clusters of rosy purple bracts.
officinalis. The type species is our common kitchen sage, ornamental but usually relegated to the herb garden. It forms dense clumps, usually 6-12" high. Each shoot is packed with 2-4" narrowly oval, fuzzy leaves. In spring it sends up many dense spikes of small lavender to violet blossoms.‘Berggarten’ is a dense, low carpet of broad grey-green leaves, with lavender-blue flowers. ‘Variegata’ has dull green leaves strongly and irregularly variegated with yellow, particularly bright in spring. ‘Icterina’ is similar. It has never bloomed for us. ‘Purpurea’ has darker green foliage, strongly tinged with purple in new growth. ‘Tricolor’ combines dark green, cream and purplish red. Tough, easily grown plants for use in the low border and—of course—an ornamental addition to the herb garden. 0oF or less.
patens. An erect perennial, usually growing about 2’ tall. Both the stems and the broad 2-4" leaves are bright to deep green and softly hairy. Two-inch beak shaped blossoms, colored a bright true blue, are carried in loose clusters above the foliage in late summer. ‘Cambridge Blue’ has slightly paler leaves and beautiful sky-blue flowers. The most recent addition is ‘Lavender Lady’, with truly lavender flowers. Moderate to regular watering during the warmer months. The plants should be kept as dry as possible during winter to avoid rotting. Hardy to 20oF. or below.
‘Purple Majesty’. This showy hybrid sage is a large (to at least 5'), semishrubby perennial with erect stems and broad, pointed, heavily textured leaves. Tubular, velvet-textured blossoms, deep purple in color, are displayed in whorls along 1-2' flower stems in late summer and fall. Sun, reasonably well drained soil, moderate to regular watering. 25oF or less.
roemeriana. A Texas native, unlike any of our other salvias in habit. It clumps tightly at the base, forming many low crowns of soft heart shaped leaves. Slender, branched 1' flower stems rise almost continuously, from early spring to fall, each displaying many tubular scarlet blossoms. Shearing off spent flower stems improves the show. Sun or part shade, moderate to occasional watering. Hardy to 10oF or less.
sclarea—tricolor form. Clary sage. While hundreds of sages have had at least momentary stardom in the last couple of decades, others equally deserving have been all but ignored. This is one of the second group, so I will have to shout its virtues. It spends its first year or two as a low crown of furry grey-green leaves, often with pink-tinged stalks, each up to 8" long. Then it begins to grow and branch, with furry stalks that can reach 3’ or more. All along these are buds with large bracts, marked with cream and lavender-pink. The flowers themselves, when they open, are over an inch long and light blue and white in color. The show goes on for weeks or months. Cutting the stems before seeds are set can preserve the plants for another year or two; otherwise, they may die from their massive effort, self-seeding for future generations in the process. Hardy to 0oF. or less. So why don’t you have one?sinaloensis. This is a compact semishrub from Mexico, 2’ or less tall at maturity with slightly greater spread. Leaves are small and dark, with a strong purple tinge. Short clusters of deep blue flowers decorate the plants from early summer to fall. Hardiness is uncertain; assume 20-25oF.
sonomensis. Sonoma sage. I am pleased to have this species to describe once again, though it sometimes tries the patience of all who grow it. This is a prostrate, semishrubby perennial, often seen making broad carpets in the California chaparral. The stems are closely lined by rather narrow, pleasantly to bitterly aromatic leaves, about 2" long. They are covered by short hairs, especially on the lower surface, and can be almost ashy grey in color (some forms have tired-looking yellowish green leaves, but one would hardly consider these for the garden. Rising straight up off the mats in spring are slender stems carrying interrupted clusters of deep purple to white (unfortunately, usually "dirty white") blossoms. My recent selections are from the nearby Gabilan Range and combine bright grey leaves with violet flowers. This is an ideal ground cover for steep, dry banks, needing full exposure and excellent soil drainage to reliably persist. 15oF or less.
spathacea ‘Kawatre’. An unusual native perennial, in this case from the Santa Lucia Mountains. It forms broad, dense clumps with arrow shaped, interestingly textured 6-8" leaves clustered at the base. Leafy 2’ stems appear in spring and fall, carrying large interrupted ball shaped clusters of 2" blossoms which are deep magenta on opening, changing to orange-red. A recent addition from the wild, even more robust and with generally darker flowers, is ‘King Crimson’. All parts of the plant are strongly and pleasantly aromatic. Tolerates some shade. Moderate to no watering. Probably 5-10oF.
x superba. A bushy perennial up to 2' tall, with distinctly angled grey-green stems and pointed-oval, heavily textured dark green leaves. In the cultivar `Compacta’, 6-10" spikes of glowing purple blossoms create a massive display in late spring and summer. ‘Rose Queen’ puts on a similar show with blossoms between rose and burgundy in color. ‘May Night’ is a more robust plant, quickly making clumps up to 2' across. It has large, dark green leaves and masses of flowers on branched 12" stalks. Moderate watering. 0oF or below.
uliginosa. A densely clumping perennial with many arching 4-6' stems, clothed with narrow, shiny green leaves. Branched clusters of beautiful blue flowers adorn the plant in late summer and fall. Moderate watering. Probably 15oF or less.
‘Verona’. There is a puzzle attached to this plant. It was wild-collected in Italy but fits no known species. Therefore it is assumed to be either a natural hybrid or one involving at least one garden escape. In any case, it is quite consistent from seeds, producing crowns of mostly 4-6" lance-shaped basal leaves. The leaves are deep green in color, deeply veined and closely toothed around the margins. Branched flowering stalks rise 12-18" from the crowns in summer and fall, carrying many whorls of small, intensely violet flowers. 15oF. or less, possibly much less.
‘Waverly’. A bushy hybrid, making a 3-4’ dome. Its reddish stems present a crisp contrast to dark, deeply veined 2-3" leaves. Graceful, arching flower stems are covered with purplish red hairs, the calyx of the flowers even more so, in the manner of S. leucantha. The flowers themselves are broadly tubular, about an inch long and white, at times with rosy shading at the tips. In winter the entire plant is tinged with purple.