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.
greggii. This species has long been popular for landscape use, though until recently the material available reflected little of its diversity in the wild. Some dedicated effort in selection has resulted in a wealth of new flower colors. Most clones are in the 2-4’ range. All have closely branched stems and narrow 3/4-1½" leaves, colored light green to bluish green. The ½-1" blossoms are dotted in small clusters over the plants much of the year. Our earlier material, received from James David in Austin, Texas, includes selections with white, coral, and deep red flowers. Betsy Clebsch’s selection, ‘Annie’, has blossoms I would describe as hot lipstick pink. Our own cross between this one and a coral-orange selection, dubbed ‘Wild Thing’, has blossoms of an incredible, glowing orange-red. ‘Moonlight’, discovered by our own Jose Gonsales, is a particularly compact plant bearing masses of moonlight yellow blossoms. ‘Plum Wine’ has reddish purple flowers. These are perfect shrubs for exposed banks and neglected corners of the garden. With better treatment or heavy soils they grow and flower beautifully for a while, but tend to be short-lived. Mostly 15oF. or less.
microphylla. This species is part of a botanical complex with S. greggii, S. muelleri and S. coahuilensis. Distinguishing them sometimes requires a trained botanist, though each has many beautiful forms. This one, which is found from southern Arizona to southern Mexico, is extremely variable. It is a profusely branched shrub with slender young stems and usually small, flat, green leaves. The flowers are of variable size, up to perhaps 1" long and broad, much like those of S. greggii in form, and borne most of the year in loose clusters at the shoot tips. Colors range from white to intense violet, rose pink and fire engine red. We offer most of these at one time or another, simply under their color names. Most forms are easily grown and drought tolerant, though their hardiness varies considerably.
ssp. (var.?) grahami (S. grahami). While botanists debate the “true” identity of this complex entity, we can simply appreciate its ornamental features. The plants are usually quite full, with relatively broad leaves of variable size. Our original offering is round and about as dense as a salvia can be, with bright green leaves and brilliant red flowers, borne mostly in midsummer. 20oF. or less.
var. neurepia (“deltoid leaf form” in previous editions of this guide). One of the showiest, toughest and longest lived of the southwestern salvias. The unnamed selection at hand is a nearly round to spreading shrub, growing 3-5’ tall and a little more openly branched than S. greggii. It has broad, conspicuously angled and toothed leaves and bears a continual succession of large, bright red blossoms. My own home plant has never been out of bloom. 10oF. or less.
regla ‘Huntington’. A tough, hardy Texan with several ornamental features. This selection grows around 3' tall and spreads to at least 6'. It has bright green, profusely branched stems and rounded, deeply textured leaves. It blooms much of the year, though the heaviest displays come in spring and fall. Large, orange-red blossoms are carried in short clusters at each shoot tip. After each flower has fallen the reddish calyx left behind maintains a flower-like appearance for several weeks. Selected at the Huntington Botanical Garden. Tolerant of many soils, drought and temperatures to 10oF 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.