salvia (sage) - an amazingly diverse plant for the garden

8/7/2019 Salvia (Sage) - An Amazingly Diverse Plant for the Garden

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Perennial Salvia

Ornamental Sages for the Garden

By Tony Avent

Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

www.plantdelights.com

9241 Sauls Road

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.772.4794

Salvia Dancing Dolls
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Few plant genera offer the amazing diversity and ornamental potential found in the genus

Salvia. These members of the Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae) family are first cousins to

Nepeta (Catmint), Mentha (true mint), and monarda (bee balm), to mention but a few.Salvias range from woody subshrubs to annuals, and are native to virtually every

continent. Salviasare known for their fragrant foliage and subsequent deer-resistance.

Most salviasare full sun plants although a small handful are shade tolerant. I am omittingthe popular herb, Salvia officinalis, since it is a short-lived plant that does not like our NC

climate.

The focus of this article is salvias which make good perennial garden specimens betweenHardiness Zones 3 and 8. For the sake of making sense of the genus, I'll divide thesalvias

into three groups; those with woody stems, those which are both herbaceous (non-woody

stems) and deciduous (die to the ground) in the winter, and finally those which are

herbaceous and form basal rosettes.

Woody Stem Salvias

The woody salvia group include several worthy garden subjects, Salvia greggii, Salviamicrophylla, Salvia chamaedryoides, and Salvia regla. Salvias in this group could also be

classified as shrubs or subshrubs. Most of these salvias are evergreen to a certaintemperature, below which they can behave as herbaceous perennials.

Salvia chamaedryoides is a Mexican native which goes by the common name of Blue

Oak sage. Salvia chamaedryoidesforms a 1' tall x 2' wide clump of woody stems adornedwith small ever-grey leaves. From midsummer through fall, the plants are adorned with

dark pure blue flowers. Good drainage and bright sun are preferred ...Salvia

chamaedryoides has been quite easy in our experience. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia greggii (often spelled incorrectly as Salvia greggi) is the most commonly grown of

the woody salvias. This amazing plant, native to both Mexico and the US, thrives under awide range of conditions, growing equally as well in Florida as England ... as long as the

drainage is good. The flower color of the species ranges from white to red to purple. In

warm climates, Salvia greggii flowers best in spring, slows in summer, then puts onanother superb show in fall. There are many named selections of Salvia greggii that vary

in size, hardiness, and flower color. While many selections of Salvia greggii are only

hardy in Zone 7, others can tolerate Zone 5b (-15 degrees F) temperatures. Salvia greggii

prefers sunny, well drained sites and are intolerant of poorly drained soils. While Salviagreggii is tolerant of severe pruning, this is best done only in spring or summer. Salvia

greggii has two types of foliage ... smaller evergreen leaves and slightly larger summer

leaves ... don't be alarmed when the summer leaves drop in fall as the plant prepares forcolder temperatures.

Salvia greggii 'Big Pink' (Big Pink Sage) Salvia greggii 'Big Pink' is a very nice, largeflowered pink form of S. greggii collected by Texan Pat McNeal near Saltillo, Mexico.

The rigidly upright form and very shiny foliage make this a great plant, even for the small

garden. From May through July, and again from September through November, the 3'

wide clump is topped with a stunning array of large, violet pink flowers (RHS 57C). The
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flowers are further accented by the unique, dark maroon calyces that surround them.

(Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer' (Dark Dancer Sage) Salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer' is a Rich

Dufresne introduction of a plant that was discovered by Nevin Smith of Suncrest Nursery

in California. Salvia greggii 'Dark Dancer' makes a 4' tall x 4' wide clump, topped withraspberry flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia greggii 'Diane' (Diane Texas Sage)Salvia greggii 'Diane' is an introduction fromBarton Springs Nursery in Texas from cuttings shared by a customer named Diane.

Salvia greggii 'Diane' makes an 18" tall x 4' wide clump, topped with small purple

flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7-9)

Salvia greggii 'Flame'(Flame Texas Sage) Salvia greggii 'Flame' makes a 30" tall x 3'

wide clump, topped with brilliant red flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia greggii 'Furman's Red' (Furman's Red Sage) This easy to grow and very hardyselection of S. greggii has a very upright growth habit, making it a splendid choice for a

narrow spot in the border. When mature, expect a 3' tall x 2' wide clump. From latespring, throughout the summer and early fall, the clumps are topped with bright red

flowers. (Hardiness Zone 6-10)

Salvia greggii 'Lipstick' (Lipstick Texas Sage) Salvia greggii 'Lipstick' makes a 3' tall x 3'wide clump, topped with lipstick red flowers, white throat, and brown calyx. (Hardiness

Zone 7-10)

Salvia greggii 'Pink Preference' (Pink Preference Texas Sage) Salvia greggii 'Pink

Preference' named by the late Logan Calhoun, makes a 2' tall x 3' wide clump, topped

with dark red-pink flowers, highlighted by a nearly black floral calyx. It is darkerflowered and more compact that Salvia greggii 'Big Pink' (Hardiness Zone 6-10)

Salvia greggii 'Teresa'(Teresa's Texas Sage) Salvia greggii 'Teresa' was selected byTexan David Steinbrunner and named after his wife, Teresa. The branch sport from a red

Salvia greggii has white flowers highlighted by a light purple base just above the calyx as

well as purple streaks on the lower lip. For us, it makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump.

(Hardiness is Zone 7-9)

Salvia greggii 'Texas Wedding' (White Texas Sage) Salvia greggii 'Texas Wedding', often

sold as Salvia greggii 'Alba' makes a 2' tall x 2' wide clump, topped with pure whiteflowers. The plant traces back to the late Carol Abbott of Kerrville, Texas (Hardiness

Zone 5b-10)

Salvia greggii 'Variegata' (Desert Blaze Texas Sage) Salvia greggii 'Variegata' is a John

Augustine introduction, patented under the invalid name of Salvia greggii 'Variegata' and

illegally trademarked as Desert Blaze, a name which has no valid standing. The plant is

quite nice with white edged leaves and bright red flowers on a 2' tall x 3' wide clump.
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Salvia microphylla is another Mexican native, closely related to Salvia greggii. As ageneral rule, Salvia microphylla makes a larger clump, also with larger foliage than

Salvia greggii. Additionally, Salvia microphylla is much more tolerant of hot, humid

weather than Salvia greggii.

Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips' (Hot Lips Sage) This selection of the Mexican Salvia

microphylla was introduced by Richard Turner of California after the plant was sharedwith him by his maid, who brought it from her home in Mexico. The fast growing, 30"

tall x 6' wide clump is adorned with stunning bicolor flowers with red tips and white lips.

In spring, the first flowers are all red, then bicolor. When the nights warm in summer, the

new flowers are mostly white with an occasional solid red one. As fall approaches, theflowers again will be bicolor red and white. (Hardiness Zone 7 9)

Salvia microphylla 'La Trinidad Pink' (La Trinidad Pink Sage) Salvia 'La Trinidad Pink'

is a Yucca Do introduction from Mexico that forms a 2' tall x 4' wide clump topped withred violet flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7-9a)

Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos Festival' (San Carlos Festival Sage) This 1997 Yucca Do

introduction was discovered 5 years earlier in Tamaulipas, Mexico, in the village of San

Carlos at 3,800'. The 2' tall x 3' wide clump is adorned with red violet flowers. (Hardiness

Zone 7-9a)

Salvia microphylla 'Wild Watermelon' (Wild Watermelon Sage) This 1996 Rich

Dufresne introduction is a selection of S. microphylla from a seedling population from aDon Mahoney collection at Cerro Potosi, Mexico at 7000-8500' elevation. The plant was

selected and named by Rich during a visit to the Strybing Arboretum. Salvia 'Wild

Watermelon' is adorned with large pink flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7-9a)

There are also a number of wonderful hybrids between these woody species. Hybrids of

Salvia greggii and Salvia microphylla are known as Salvia x jamensis (pronounced"haamensis"). There is a wide range of hardiness in this group, depending on which clone

of each parent is used. Some Salvia x jamensis selections are only hardy in Zone 8b,

while others are fine to Zone 7.

Salvia 'California Sunset' (California Sunset Sage) Salvia 'California Sunset' forms a 3'

tall x 4' wide clump, topped with peachy orange flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-9)

Salvia x jamensis 'Cienego D'oro' (Cienego D'Oro Sage) Salvia 'Cienego D'Oro' is a

Yucca Do selection, discovered in Mexico. The 30" tall x 3' wide clumps are topped with

light yellow flowers. (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia 'Maraschino' (Maraschino Cherry Sage) Salvia 'Maraschino', a Rich Dufresne

hybrid of Salvia microphylla and Salvia greggii 'Furman's Red' forms a 30" tall x 3' tall

clump, topped with bright velvet red flowers. (Hardiness Zone 6-10)
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Salvia x jamensis 'Moonlight' (Moonlight Sage) Salvia 'Moonlight' is a selection from

California's Nevin Smith. Salvia 'Moonlight' makes a 2' tall x 3' wide clump, topped withlight yellow flowers. (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia x jamensis 'Pat Vlasto' (Pat Vlasto Sage) Salvia 'Pat Vlasto' comes from a JamesCompton expedition to Mexico with the folks from Yucca Do. Salvia 'Pat Vlasto' makes a

3' tall x 3' wide clump of light orangy-peach flowers. (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia x jamensis 'San Isidro Moon' (San Isidro Moon Sage) Salvia 'San Isidro Moon' is a

Yucca Do introduction, discovered in Mexico, which makes a 30" tall x 3' wide clump,

topped with light peach flowers with a darker rim. (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia x jamensis 'Sierra de San Antonio' (Sierra San Antonio Sage) Salvia 'Sierra de San

Antonio' is a Yucca Do selection from Mexico. Salvia 'Sierra de San Antonio' makes a

30" tall x 3' wide clump, topped in light pastel yellow and orange flowers with dark

calyxes. (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia x jamensis Stampede Series (Stampede Sage) This series of Salvia x jamensishybrids were bred by the breeding company Floranova. Each makes a compact 18" tall x

2' wide floriferous clump. Varieties include Salvia 'Stampede Cherry' (cherry flowers),

Salvia 'Stampede Punch' (pink fruit punch flowers), Salvia 'Stampede Citron' (light

yellow flowers), and Salvia 'Stampede Lavender' (lavender flowers). (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

There is an array of other woody-stemmed interspecific hybrids including other species.Some of the more popular ones are listed below.

Salvia 'Christine Yeo' (Christine Yeo Sage) Salvia 'Christine Yeo' is the first salvia

hybrid between S. microphylla and S. chamaedryoides, originating at Christine Yeo'sPleasant View Nursery in England. For us, Salvia 'Christine Yeo' makes a durable 15" tall

x 3' wide clump, topped with purple violet flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-9)

Salvia regla (Orange Mountain Sage) A woodysalvia species that is a must for fall

garden color is Salvia regla, (Orange Mountain Sage). In the trade, Salvia regla is

represented by Salvia regla 'Jame', a Dr. Rich Dufresne collection from Coahuila, Jame,

Mexico that makes a 4' tall x 3' wide clump, adorned with glossy, round green leaves andtopped, starting in September, with 3" long scarlet orange, tubular flowers ... a

hummingbird's favorite. South of Zone 7, Salvia regla could reach 10' tall. (Hardiness

Zone 7b-10)

Deciduous Herbaceous Salvias

The next group ofsalvias are those which die to the ground during winter. These include

Salvia azurea (syn. Salvia pitcheri),Salvia darcyi,Salvia disjuncta, Salvia elegans, Salvia

engelmannii, Salvia farinacea, Salvia glabrescens, Salvia glutinosa, Salvia guaranitica,

Salvia koyamae, Salvia leucantha, Salvia longispicata, Salvia madrensis, Salvia
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mexicana, Salvia nipponica, Salvia puberula, Salvia reptans, and Salvia uliginosa. Some

members of this group are particularly sensitive to cold, wet winters at the northern end

of their hardiness range. We have found that not cutting them back until spring greatlyhelps winter survival. When they are cut in fall, the stems have a tendency to fill with

water and freeze during the winter.

Salvia azurea ssp. pitcheri (Tall Blue Sage) The North American native, Salvia azurea ssp

pitcheri is the most cold hardy of this group. Many forms are quite tall and gangly,

making them poor garden subjects. The best is unquestionablySalvia azurea 'Nekan'. The3' tall, upright stems are clothed with linear grey green foliage. From July through

September, the stems are topped with lovely, pure blue flowers. S. azurea is at home in

dreadfully hot, dry sites, as well as nestled in the midst of the perennial border. Salvia

azurea 'Nekan' (Nebraska Kansas) is a seed strain named for a selected population foundnorth of Lincoln, Nebraska. For us, this has proven to be a great improvement on the

species with its more sturdy upright constitution and larger flowers. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia darcyi (Darcy's sage) is a large-growing Mexican species that was originallyoffered as Salvia oresbia. It was renamed and officially published by England's James

Compton in a 1994 issue of "Kew." It was originally discovered in Galeana, Mexico, byYucca Do Nursery collectors who, unfortunately, received no credit in "Kew." When

given plenty of room and bright light, Salvia darcyi makes a huge, 4' tall x 7' wide clump

of heart shaped, highly fragrant, light green leaves. Throughout the summer, the clump is

topped by spikes of bright orange red flowers (RHS 43A), but in the fall the floral showis nothing short of spectacular. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia disjuncta(Misplaced Sage) is a Mexican native species, first distributed in 1993 byCalifornia's Strybing Arboretum, which collected it from the southern Mexican

mountains in the late 1980s. The mahogany brown stems stretch to 6' tall and are covered

in tiny white hairs ... as are probably the folks who originally collected the salvia. Thestalks are adorned with fragrant, fuzzy heart shaped leaves and topped, starting in late

October, with intense carmine red tubular flowers. In mild climates, flowering continues

through the winter or until a hard freeze. Our plants have survived 6 degrees Funmulched. (Hardiness Zone: 7b 10)

Salvia elegans (Pineapple Sage) This popular Mexicansalvia is prized for its pineapple-

scented foliage. The 4' tall clumps are topped with bright red flowers, starting inmidsummer and continuing until frost. Salvia elegans is intolerant of wet soils in cold

winters. Salvia elegans is represented in the trade by the following cultivars. (Hardiness

Zone 8-10)

Salvia elegans 'Frieda Dixon' (Frieda Dixon Pineapple Sage) Salvia 'Frieda Dixon' is a

Jon Dixon selection that forms a 4' tall x 3' wide clump, topped with salmon pink flowers.(Hardiness Zone 8-10)

Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious' PP 17,977 (Golden Delicious Pineapple Sage) Salvia

'Golden Delicious' is a bright gold-foliage selection from Illinois's Brent Horvath. The
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flowers which top the 4' tall x 3' wide clumps are typical bright red. 'Scarlet Pineapple'

(Scarlet Pineapple Sage) Salvia 'Scarlet Pineapple' has more, and larger, flowers than the

wild species.

Salvia engelmannii (Engelmann's Sage) is another of those wonderful salvias that is

strangely missing from the mainstream nursery trade. S. engelmannii hails from only 17counties in Texas ... the equivalent of three normal US states, and forms an attractive

deciduous clump of light green leaves 1' tall x 1' wide. The clump is topped in June with

short spikes of light blue lavender flowers. While Salvia engelmannii prefers slightlyalkaline soils, we have found this to be a superb rock garden plant in soils with a pH

above 6.0. Although we have found Salvia engelmannii easy to grow, good drainage is

very important. (Hardiness Zone 7-8, at least)

Salvia farinacea (Mealy Cup Sage) is one of those rare North American native plants

(Oklahoma south into Mexico) that has been readily embraced by the bedding plant

industry, where it has been hybridized and sold as an annual. In fact, Salvia farinacea is

one of the finest, longest-flowering sages that can be grown. Salvia farinacea prefers fullsun and good drainage. It is represented in the trade by the following selections.

(Hardiness Zone 7b-9)

Salvia farinacea 'Augusta Duelberg' (Augusta Duelberg Mealy Cup Sage) This Greg

Grant selection was discovered in an old graveyard in Texas. This splendid selection

makes a compact 30" tall x 4' wide specimen, topped from May until frost with hundredsof spikes of silvery white flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10) Salvia farinacea 'Blue Bedder'

(Blue Bedder Mealy Cup Sage) Salvia 'Blue Bedder' is a seed strain, often sold as a

bedding plant, forming a 2' tall x 1' wide clump, topped all summer with stalks of blueflowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia farinacea 'Henry Duelberg' (Henry Duelberg Mealy Cup Sage) This Greg Grantselection was discovered in an old graveyard in Texas. This splendid selection makes a

compact 30" tall x 4' wide specimen, topped from May until frost with hundreds of spikes

of blue flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia farinacea 'Strata' (Strata Mealy Cup Sage) This seed strain cultivar is also often

sold as a bedding plant. It reaches 18" tall x 1' wide and is topped all summer with spikes

of blue and white bicolor flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia farinacea 'Victoria' (Victoria Mealy Cup Sage) This cultivar is also often sold as a

bedding plant. The 16" tall x 1' wide clumps are topped all summer with spikes of blue-violet flowers. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia glabrescens (Japanese Woodland Sage) Salvia glabrescens is an 18" tall Japanesewoodland sage, topped in late summer and fall with spikes of pink flowers. In our trials,

it seems to prefer a cooler climate to the heat of Eastern NC. Barry Yinger seems to be

the first to bring this into the country from Japan (Hardiness Zone 6-8)
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Salvia guaranitica (Anise Sage) hails from Argentina, Brazil and surrounding countries.

The cultivars vary in size, spreading ability, and hue of blue flowers. Salvia guaranitica

prefers full sun and rich moist soils, but an amazing ability to tolerate adverse conditionssuch as light shade and very dry soils ... although it will not perform as well. Salvia

guaranitica grows by short-spreading underground rhizomes. Unlike bamboo, a clump of

Salvia guaranitica will not take over your garden, but it will enlarge quickly in good soil.Salvia guaranitica is represented in the trade by the following cultivars.

Salvia guaranitica 'Argentina Skies' (Argentina Skies Anise Sage) This Charles Cressonselection of S. guaranitica is dramatically different from the normal species. The 3' tall

plant is topped, from midsummer until fall, with hundreds of tubular sky blue flowers

(RHS 97A) ... not the dark blue, which is more typical. This vigorous selection is also

somewhat stoloniferous although it doesn't run far. (Hardiness Zone 6-10)

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue' (Black and Blue Anise Sage) Salvia guaranitica

'Black and Blue'forms 3' tall clumps, clothed in fuzzy green, spade shaped leaves. From

early June (NC) through October, the slowly spreading patches are topped with 1' spikesof narrow, long, snapdragon like, luscious, deep blue flowers ... a hummingbird favorite.

This selection of the hardy anise sage differs from the norm in that the calyx (the littlecup that holds the open flower) is black instead of the usual green. In rich soil, a 5 year

old clump can spread to 6' wide. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia guaranitica 'Brazil' (Brazil Anise Sage) Salvia 'Brazil' forms 30" tall clumps,adorned with green leaves and topped with cobalt blue flowers held in green calyxes from

early summer until fall. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia guaranitica 'Costa Rican Blue' (Costa Rican Blue Anise Sage) Salvia 'Costa Rican

Blue' is a large grower and the least winter hardy of the Salvia guaranitica clones. It now

appears that this may actually be a hybrid of Salvia guaranitica and Salvia mexicana,which certainly makes sense. The 6' tall giant is topped with large dark blue flowers.


Salvia guaranitica 'Kobalt' (Kobalt Blue Anise Sage) We have grown Salvia 'Kobalt' for

many years and find it to be very similar to Salvia guaranitica 'Brazil'. (Hardiness Zone 7-

10)

Salvia guaranitica 'Omaha' (Omaha Anise Sage) This unique salviais a variegated leaf

version of the Salvia guaranitica 'Costa Rican Blue'. Each fuzzy, dark green, heart-shaped

leaf is surrounded by a wide, chartreuse green border. In areas with cool nighttemperatures, the contrast in the leaves is absolutely stunning. During periods of high

night temperatures, the leaf contrast disappears until evenings cool. Regardless of the

leaves, this 6' giant is topped in late summer and early fall with 6 10" long stalks of largestunning dark blue flowers! (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia guaranitica 'Van Remsen'(Van Remsen Anise Sage) This amazing hummingbird

favorite makes a stunning 7' tall clump that doesn't run. The green stems are clothed in
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large 6'' long x 5" wide dark green leaves, then topped, starting in late May, with spikes

of cobalt blue flowers ... a stunning garden specimen and favorite of high flying

hummingbirds. Salvia guaranitica 'Van Remsen', a probable hybrid of Salvia guaranitica'Brazil' x Salvia guaranitica 'Costa Rica', was discovered in James Van Remsen's

Louisiana garden and later named and distributed by salviaguru, Rich Dufresne.


Salvia koyamae(Japanese Yellow Sage) The Japanese Salvia koyamaehas large, hairy,

green foliage that makes a spectacular bold effect in the garden. WhileSalvia koyamaewill grow in the part-day sun, it prefers a shady woodland setting. The 18" tall x 3' wide

clumps are adorned with soft yellow flowers from late summer through fall ... great in a

mass planting! (Hardiness Zone 4b-10)

Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage) The Mexican bush sage is so wonderful that

northern gardeners grow it as a prized annual. Fortunately for us, it is hardy in the

warmer parts of Zone 7 ... reliable for us to 0 degrees F. The key to winter survival in the

northern end of its range is early establishment and dry soil in the winter. We like to plantnear a large shrub that sucks the moisture from the soil. The other key is that the stems

not be cut back until the plant resumes basal growth in spring. The hairy leaves clothe the40" tall upright stems that are topped with spectacular purple and white velvety flowers

from very late summer until frost. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10) In the trade, Salvia leucantha

is represented by the following cultivars.

Salvia leucantha 'Midnight' (Midnight Mexican Bush Sage) (syn: Salvia leucantha All

Purple) Salvia leucantha 'Midnight'is from the California garden of the late Victor Reiter,

and is the same wonderful late summer and fall blooming salviaas S. leucantha, butinstead of the white florets inside the purple calyces, the florets are also dark velvety

purple. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' PP 12,949 PP 12,949 (Santa Barbara Dwarf Mexican

Sage)Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'PP 12,949 is an amazing introduction from

California, reaching only 2' tall, but with a spread of 3 4' in width. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)

Salvia longispicata (Long-spike Mexican Sage) The Mexican Salvia longispicata is a bit

of a mystery, but we feel that Salvia 'Blue Chiquita' represents a selection of that species.

This late season flowering Mexican native sage was discovered by Yucca Do on anexpedition in 1997. The heavily quilted, dark green leaves, each backed with silvery

white, form a 2' tall x 3' wide, compact mound of foliage. From late September until

frost, the clumps are topped with rigid 20" spires of blue flowers (RHS 89C). This is verylate to emerge in spring. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia madrensis (Forsythia sage) Salvia madrensis is a high elevation Mexicansalviathat makes a large clump, whose exaggerated square green stems reach 7' tall by the time

it bursts into flower in late September. We have found some forms to be reliably hardy to

0 degrees F, while others die out at 15 degrees F. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)
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Salvia madrensis is represented in commerce by the following cultivars.

Salvia madrensis 'Dunham' (Dunham Forsythia Sage) Salvia madrensis 'Dunham' is avery winter hardy, early flowering form that we obtained and named from Cary, NC

gardener, the late Rachel Dunham. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia madrensis 'Red Neck Girl' (Red Neck Girl Forsythia Sage)Salvia madrensis 'Red

Neck Girl', a Plant Delights Nursery introduction, is a very winter hardy selection with

bright reddish purple stems, and typically yellow flowers in fall that bloom slightlyearlier than other forms we have trialed. This is a seedling from a seed batch from

Southwest Native Seed. (Hardiness Zone 7b-10)

Salvia mexicana (Giant Mexican Blue Sage) Salvia mexicana is an imposing clump thatcan easily reach 7' tall. It flowers from midsummer until frost with tall spikes of blue

flowers. One of our favorites is Salvia mexicana 'Limelight' with contrasting green

calyces, which accent the cobalt blue flowers. (Hardiness Zone 8b-10)

Salvia nipponica (Japanese Woodland Sage) Salvia nipponica is very similar toSalvia

koyamaein the trade may actually be Salvia nipponica), producing an 18" tall x 3' widepatch of stems with hastate light green leaves and topped, starting in late summer, with

short spikes of light butter yellow flowers. Salvia nipponica is another of the sages which

prefers light shade to part sun. (Hardiness Zone 6-9, at least) Salvia glutinosa is a similar

related species. Salvia nipponica is represented in the trade by the following cultivar.

Salvia nipponica 'Fuji Snow'(Fuji Snow Japanese Sage) Salvia nipponica 'Fuji Snow'is a

Barry Yinger introduction from Japan which has leaves surrounded by a white marginthat disappears during the summer. During late summer, the clumps are smothered with

18" stalks of light yellow flowers. (Hardiness Zone 6-9, at least)

Salvia puberula 'El Butano' (El Butano Mexican Sage) This selection of Salvia puberula

(with particularly large and colorful Salvia regla 'Jame' flowers) was collected by John

Fairey and Carl Schoenfeld of Yucca Do in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, at 7,000' elevation.The velvety green leaves adorn the 4' tall upright stalks that are topped, starting in late

October, with a flower head of deep magenta pink, resembling a pink cotton ball that was

plugged into an electrical outlet ... a great form of this wonderful salvia. We have had this

for over a decade and have never had any winter losses in Zone 7b. (Hardiness Zone 7b-9)

Salvia reptans West Texas Form (Cobalt Sage) (aka: S. leptophylla) This easy to growTexas native is a close relative of S. pitcheri, but, in my opinion, is a much nicer plant.

Normally a lax plant, this upright form was collected by Pat McNeal of Texas in the

Davis Mountains in Davis Co., Texas, at 4,000'. The needle thin, green leaves adorn the3' tall stems, and in September they burst forth at the tips with vivid, dark cobalt blue

flowers. Native to the Trans Pecos region, it is found in dry, gravelly, mountainous

washes. Despite this affinity for well drained soils, it has performed marvelously in the

muggy Southeast. (Hardiness Zone 5-9)
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Salvia uliginosa (Bog Sage)Salvia uliginosa is a 55" tall, upright stoloniferous salvia,

native to South America, including Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina. Salvia uliginosadisplays a beautiful cloud of clear, light blue flowers from June (NC) through fall ... an

open and airy habit ... one of our favorites! Bog sage is at home in a moist full sun

setting; ours doesn't spread as fast or get as tall in drier sites. (Hardiness Zone 6-10)

The following are hybrids with the aforementioned species.

Salvia 'Anthony Parker' (Anthony Parker Sage) This hybrid from South Carolina garden

designer Frances Parker is a cross between Salvia leucantha 'Midnight'x S. elegans

(Pineapple sage). Frances rescued the young seedling from her lawn just ahead of the

mower and named it for her young grandson, Anthony, who was one year old at the time(1994). Salvia 'Anthony Parker' makes a compact, 3' tall x 8' wide clump that is covered,

from late September until frost, with 1' long, terminal, dark purple flower spikes. The

purple spikes are adorned with dark purple calyxes as well as dark blue purple (RHS

89A) flowers. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)

Salvia 'Balsalmisp' PP 18,054 (Mystic Spires Sage) (aka: S. 'Mystic Spires') Salvia'Balsalmisp' is a great new creation from the folks at Ball Seed. Unfortunately, it is also

another disgraceful example of incorrect/double naming from a company that should

have respect for proper nomenclature. Salvia 'Balsalmisp' started its life in 2003 as a

radiation induced mutation on the popular S. 'Indigo Spires'. Salvia 'Balsalmisp' has muchshorter internodes, making it a more compact plant than its parent. Narrow flower spikes

of violet blue top the 2' tall clump from June until fall. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)

Salvia 'Indigo Spires' (Indigo Spires Sage) This hybrid of Salvia farinacea and Salvia

longispicata comes from California horticulturist John MacGregor and was introduced in

1979 by the Huntington Botanical Garden. S. 'Indigo Spires' has dark blue purple flowers,borne on long, arching 3' tall stalks throughout summer until frost. The unusual, twisting

flower spikes create a form of their own in the garden. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)

Salvia 'Phyllis Fancy' (Phyllis Fancy Sage) Named for Phyllis Norris, this wonderful

seedling, thought to be a hybrid between Salvia leucantha and possibly S. chiapensis,

occurred at the University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum. It is similar but larger and

hardier than S. 'Waverly' and has been perennial to 8 degrees F in our trials. The 7' tallclumps are only 1' wide at the bottom but have a 7' wide spread at the top. Starting in

early September and continuing until frost, the clumps are topped with 1' long purple

spikes of light lavender flowers, each held in a bicolor calyx, purple on top and green onthe bottom. (Hardiness Zone 7b-9)

Salvia 'Purple Majesty' (Purple Majesty Sage) Salvia 'Purple Majesty' is a hybrid ofSalvia guaranitica and Salvia gesneriflora 'Tequila' from California's Huntington

Botanical Garden. Salvia 'Purple Majesty' is much slower-growing than its parent,

clumping instead of spreading. The 3' tall clumps are topped with short spikes of dark

purple flowers. (Hardiness Zone 8-10)
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Salvia 'Silke's Dream' (Silke's Dream Sage) Salvia 'Silke's Dream' is a cross ofSalvia

darcyi x Salvia microphylla, discovered by Art Petley of Austin, Texas. Lookingsuperficially like Salvia darcyi, the 3' wide clump is topped all summer with 15" spikes of

rich, dark orange red flowers (RHS 42A). In the fall, the number of flowers explodes into

a solid mass of color. (Hardiness Zone 7-10)

Salvia 'Waverly' (Waverly Sage) Salvia 'Waverly' is a Salvia leucantha hybrid, possibly

of English origin, originally distributed as Salvia 'San Marcos Lavender'. The 5' tallclumps are topped with light pink-lavender flowers from late summer through fall.


Evergreen Rosette Salvias

The third group is those which form an evergreen rosette. The primary garden species

with this trait include Salvia lyrata, Salvia nemorosa, Salvia haematodes, Salvia pratensis,

and their hybrids. Other similar species include Salvia verticillata and the unique Salviapenstemonoides. Many of the salvias sold as these species are actually interspecific

hybrids known as Salvia x sylvestris (formerly called Salvia x superba).

Salvia lyrata 'Purple Knockout' (Purple Knockout Lyre-leaf Sage) This East coast native

is an easy-to-grow plant, but not all natives belong in the garden and Salvia lyrata is a

great example. Despite the lovely purple foliage of this selection, Salvia lyrata is a weedthat seeds everywhere in the garden (especially gravelly soils) and if that wasn't bad

enough, it produces only tiny light lavender flowers on 2' tall stalks. Because it's easy and

cheap to produce, nurseries unfortunately still sell it. (Hardiness Zone 6-9)

Salvia x sylvestris (Superba Sage) (aka: Salvia x superba) As mentioned earlier, Salvia x

sylvestris is a mixed bag of similar hybrids. Although these are fairly easy-to-growgarden plants, they dislike waterlogged soils and hot, humid summers. In northern

climates they flower all summer, but in warmer climates, they take the summer off and

most are not recommended south of Zone 7a, since they are not good performers. Thisgroup of hybrids are represented in the trade by the following cultivars.

Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauhugel' (Blue Hill Sage) (aka: Salvia 'Blue Hill') From Germany's

renowned plantsman, Ernst Pagels, comes Salvia 'Blauhugel', a selection that makes avery compact 16" tall x 30" wide mound. For us, it is covered in flowers in April and

May (later in more northern climates). Cutting back the old flower stalks often results in a

nice rebloom in October. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Blauknigin' (Blue Queen Sage) (aka: Salvia 'Blue Queen') Salvia

'Blauknign' is an old seed strain that produces a clump 20" tall x 2' wide ... taller in coldclimates and shorter in hot climates. The blue-violet flowers top the clump in late spring.


Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Caradonna Sage) Of the Salvia x sylvestris cultivars we
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have seen and trialed, Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' is one of the finest and most tolerant

of our hot, humid climate. From Zillmer Nursery in Germany, Salvia nemorosa

'Caradonna'was discovered as a seedling of Salvia 'Wesuve' and in 2000 was awarded theOutstanding New Perennial award by the International Hardy Plant Union. The 12" tall x

18" wide clump is composed of dark purple stems clothed with felty green leaves. In

midsummer, the clumps are topped with dramatic, upright, 2' tall spikes of vivid blueviolet (RHS 89A). (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia 'Eveline' PP 14,905 (Eveline Sage) From one of Holland's premier plantsmen, PietOudolf, comes this stunning new Salvia hybrid, a sister seedling to Salvia 'Pink Delight'.

The deciduous clump emerges in early spring with basal, light green, hastate leaves

which are topped, starting in early April (NC), with up to two dozen flowering 20" tall

stems of small lavender pink (RHS 68D) flowers. This is another selection that has beenoutstanding in our hot, humid climate. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Haeumanarc' (Marcus Sage) (aka: Salvia 'Marcus') Salvia

'Haeumanarc' is a 2002 release ... a very compact 14" tall selection from MarcusHauserman of Germany. The main flowering season of lilac purple spikes is April and

May in NC, but the plants will rebloom if the old flowers are removed. (Hardiness Zone4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht' (May Night Sage) (aka: Salvia 'May Night') This 1997

Perennial Plant of the Year forms an 18" tall x 2' wide clump with spikes of dark lavenderflowers. Most of the plants sold as Salvia 'Mainacht' are the wrong plant. Unscrupulous

nurserymen found a plant that would propagate faster in order to keep up with the

demand. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Ostfriesland' (East Friesland Sage) (aka: Salvia 'East Friesland') East

Friesland salvia is a sterile selection, forming an 18" tall x 18" wide clump that betterwithstands the summer heat. The clumps are topped with dark purple flowers. (Hardiness

Zone 4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Pink Delight' (Pink Delight Sage) We have been thrilled with this new

2000 salvia introduction from world famous designer, Piet Oudolf, of the Netherlands.

This hybrid of cultivar Salvia 'Amethyst' and Salvia 'Tanzerin' has both S. pratensis and

S. nemorosa in its background. S. 'Pink Delight' forms 18" wide basal rosettes of large,green leaves, which give rise to 2' tall spikes of pink starting in late March (NC) and

continuing through most of the summer. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia 'Rhapsody In Blue' PP 15,148 (Rhapsody in Blue Sage) Salvia 'Rhapsody In Blue',

the blue flowered equivalent ofSalvia 'Eveline', is another great new sage from one of

Holland's premier plantsmen, Piet Oudolf. This Salvia nemorosa 'Amethyst' hybrid formsa compact deciduous clump of dark green leaves topped by up to 36 flower spikes. The

22" tall spikes are clothed with blue purple flowers (RHS 93A) from mid April into June.

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Salvia x sylvestris 'Rosaknigin' (Rose Queen Sage) (aka: Salvia 'Rose Queen') Rose

Queen sage is the pink-flowered counterpart to Blue Queen sage. This seed strain forms a

2' tall x 2' wide clump of dark rosy pink flowers. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Royal Crimson Distinction' (Royal Crimson Distinction Sage) From

Holland's Eleonore de Koning comes an exciting new selection that flowers from May toJune (longer in cooler climates), Salvia 'Royal Crimson Distinction' makes a 2' tall

mound of royal crimson spikes ... a very exciting new color break! (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia x sylvestris 'Schneehugel' (White Hill Sage) (aka: Salvia 'Snow Hill') From

Germany's renowned plantsman, Ernst Pagels, comes this sport of the popular S.

'Blauhugel' which makes a tight, 18" wide mound of fuzzy, light green, disease resistant

foliage, smothered in April and May with 10" tall spikes of pure white flowers. Cuttingback the old flower stalks often results in a nice rebloom. (Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia nemorosa 'Sensation Rose' PP 18,230 (Sensation Rose Sage) Salvia nemorosa

'Sensation Rose' is a compact salvia hybrid, topped with branching flower spikes ofbright pink. Each 1' wide clump is composed of quilted green leaves topped in late

April/May (NC) with stalks of well branched, lavender pink (RHS 72B) flower heads.(Hardiness Zone 4-8)

Salvia penstemonoides (Giant Red Sage) This Federally Endangered native from the

Edwards Plateau in central Texas was presumed extinct until five small populations wererediscovered. We are pleased to offer seed grown plants of this rare but easy to grow

gem. In appearance, the shiny green basal leaves of Salvia penstemonoides resemble a

penstemon, as do the cherry red flowers atop 3' stalks (occasionally reaching 5') that topthe clump from June through September. In the wild, it occurs in sunny, well drained

moist seeps. In the garden, we have found that a full sun, well drained but occasionally

moist site is the perfect home to this long lived sage. (Hardiness Zone 6-9)

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' (Purple Rain Sage) A Piet Oudolf introduction, Salvia

verticillata 'Purple Rain' makes an 18" wide clump of large hairy basal leaves, toppedwith 2' tall spikes of smoky purple flowers from June through September. This has not

been a good performer in our hot, humid climate. (Hardiness Zone 5-7a).

I hope you agree that salvias are an incredibly versatile genus of plants with a very longseason of interest. Whether you grow them for their ornamental garden value or

relaxation value (for medicinal use only), we hope you find several of the selections we

mentioned worth trying in your own garden.
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salvia (sage) - an amazingly diverse plant for the garden

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