Undaunted by deer and drought, this Salvia leucophylla and Salvia clevelandii progeny is a California native originating at Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens. Brew a delicious tea from its spicy scented, graygreen leaves and delight in the hummingbirds, bees and butterflies drawn to its abundance of tubular deep lavender blooms that comprise evenly spaced, ball-like clusters. With a dense shrubby profile, this good-looking reliable Sage will grow quickly in a sunny well-drained locale.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" – 4' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

This bold Mediterranean native serves up a remarkable portion of eye catching appeal on its almost platter-sized, soft and silky white, felted foliage. Emerging in a dramatic basal clump, new leaves are crinkled, but flatten as they grow, while their margins retain a sinuous wave. A spectacular showing of dramatic 2 to 3 ft. candelabralike stems are decorated in small, white, hooded flowers, each with a slight tinge of pink and a subtle grayish calyx.

After the bloom, leaves transmute to a pale gray-green, and when cooler weather returns, they turn silvery once again. Positively show-stopping along a dry wall, or in the herb garden with Lavender and Rosmarinus ‘Maltese White’, Salvia argentea demands well drained soil, tolerates drought, and will live longer if spent flower stalks are attentively removed.

Blooms June–July.

Size: 5' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Zone 5b/6.

A loose mound of luxuriant verdant foliage and trailing stems, this native of southern Arizona, Texas and northern Mexico thrives in the partial shade of small trees and shrubs. With a multitude of small, bright purple flowers held by smoky violet calyxes and a refreshing minty scent, Arizona Sage makes a delightful understory for Euphorbia griffithii ‘Great Dixter’.

Blooms June–July & again in September.

Size: 18" high x 2' 0" & spreading wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Highly esteemed for its densely packed whorls of powdery sky-blue flowers, this U.S. native assures a scene stealing, late season hurrah that beckons both butterflies and other garden visitors. Numerous slender stems stand tall, bearing narrow, linear grayish green leaves. Exhibiting unwavering drought, heat and cold tolerance, this stalwart beauty deserves a prime position in more gardens.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

A bee’s bliss, a gardener’s good friend, and very welcome indeed is this Salvia’s ability to grow in difficult, dry conditions. An excellent ground cover, ‘Bee’s Bliss’ bears abundant clusters of lavender-colored blossoms, which embellish its bright, dense mat of slender-leafed, aromatic, gray-green foliage. It willingly spills over a wall, softening hard edges, and maintains a tidy look without much care.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 12" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Blooms July–October

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

The species hails from California’s Channel Islands, while the vigorous cultivar comes from a selection made at the Santa Barbara Botanical Garden. Possessing a versatile tough-as nails persona, long-lived ‘Pacific Blue’ is an upright, mutistemmed shrubby Salvia defined by arched branches and winsome, dark green slender leaves with pebbled surfaces, felted white undersides and a spicy scent. Abundant tiered whorls of dark lavender-tinged blue blooms adorn this fast growing, hummingbird minion that can handle extreme drought, summer water and an array of soils.

Blooms April – June.

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 4' 0" – 6' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Recommended some 70 years ago by British garden writer William Robinson, this exceptional long-blooming Salvia offers fuzzy gentian-blue flowers. Its small but abundant, intensely painted blooms garnish terminal racemes above a many stemmed, emerald-green foundation of thick triangular leaves. Indigenous to the mountainous regions of southern Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala, Salvia cacaliifolia can be found growing as high as 8,000 ft., its slow-to-spread, creeping roots thriving with well-drained soil, regular water and high shade. A harbinger of cool, late season floral color, it can be positioned right up front next to Geum ‘Starker’s Magnificum’.

Blooms July–October

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 3' 0" – 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

A high-elevation, cloud forest denizen of Chiapas, Mexico, this tender Salvia champions dark green varnished leaves and bright fuchsia-colored blossoms. Widely spaced whorls house grape-hued calyxes and flashy flowers above an airy evergreen foundation of upright stems and deeply veined elliptical leaves, which are attached by long reddish petioles. Tantalizing in a container, hanging basket or the perennial bed, Chiapas Sage detests poor drainage, prefers moderate water, needs a protected winter spot and a pruning to maintain its bushy shape.

Blooms July – October.

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 3' 0" – 4' 0" wide.

Zone 8/9.

Native to southern California’s chaparral country and distinctive amongst the shrubby sages for its large deeper colored blossoms, you can usually smell this extremely long blooming, drought tolerant cultivar before it comes into view. The pleasantly sweet and woody aroma is a grace note to its handsome habit. Evergreen, narrow linear leaves have a pewter green tone, punctuated by a springtime flash of bright green stems. Excellent in dried arrangements, ‘Whirly Blue’s rich violet flower whorls, enhanced with dusky mulberry-colored calyxes, are favored by hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Prune regularly to ensure an attractive appearance.

Blooms June – October.

Size: 4-1/2' high x 4' 0" – 5' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Introduced to the nursery trade in 1990, this sterling California native has plenty of merit: prismatic, long-lasting pollinator friendly flowers, a compact rounded habit with handsome gray-green foliage and a delightful, spicy sweet fragrance plus herculean drought tolerance. Profuse, richly colored sphere-like whorls house electric blue-purple blooms and dark ruby-hued calyces that lend gorgeous textural additions to fresh or dried arrangements. A true selection of California’s Blue Sage, ‘Winnifred Gilman’ appreciates a light trim as well as sharp drainage and makes a galvanizing deer-resistant statement above a rock wall, in a native garden or Mediterranean venue.

Blooms July–September

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

With velvety, reddish purple stems, smooth, bright green new foliage that matures to a textured dark green, and fuzzy vermilion flowers, this Brazilian native is lush and tantalizing. A wonderful addition to cut arrangements, the 6 to 10 in. long flower spikes make a bold statement in the fall border, either amid Asters and grasses or combined with mounding perennials.

Blooms September–November.

Size: 5' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Widely distributed in the Andes from southern Colombia to Peru, Salvia corrugata features deeply puckered, dark green leaves. While newly emerging foliage sports downy, copper-colored undersides, each mature lance-shaped leaf has a sheen on top and contrasting grayish tomentose below. Fuzzy, light gray-green stems are crowned with showy racemes of deep blue flowers held by violet calyces. This celebrated Salvia can be utilized as a distinctive upright specimen for the mixed border.

Blooms August–October

Size: 3-1/2' – 5' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Selected by Yucca Do Nursery, the interesting foliage of this upright Mexican native makes it one of our favorite Sages. Broad, tapered leaves have an unusual bluish hue on top, while undersides turn purple as they mature. Contrast this with the vivid green of the new growth, and you’re in for quite a foliar show. Well loved by hummingbirds, the small, iridescent, deep purple flowers display a splash of white in their throats.

Blooms late August–October.

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Zone 8/9.

Acclaimed garden designer, Piet Oudolf selected this wonderful Salvia pratensis hybrid for its tidy compact habit and unusual two-toned prolific blooms. Tall, upright sturdy branched spires parade a bevy of carmine-colored buds and pink flowers nestled in dark purple calyces. Light green aromatic leaves—ovate, wrinkled and sporting crenate margins—weave a comely basal clump that wards off deer, tantalizes the hummingbirds, requires good air circulation and favors a trim after blooming to promote new growth. (uspp#14,905)

Blooms May–July

Size: 20" – 2' 0" high x 15" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

The large, almost triangular leaves of this Bulgarian native make a striking base for the long spires of white-streaked, violet-blue blooms. Robust flower stems arch gracefully above the basal foliage, which lies close to the ground. Accent the beautiful foliage and position midborder in well drained soils with fine textured perennials and grasses like Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’.

Blooms June–September.

Size: 2' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Easily adapting to humidity and higher elevations of up to 10,500 ft., this versatile, rarely offered Mexican native hosts a light airy bundle of small triangular, dentate leaves topped by sparkling azure blue flowers with white-banded lower lips. Wiry stems give way to fuzzy looking buds that generously unfurl on short spikes from summer ‘til the season’s end. Related to S. sinaloensis and S. uliginosa, undemanding S. glechomifolia appreciates loose well-drained soil, and can be featured spilling over a container’s edge or colonizing alongside a garden path as a colorful companion for Phygelius ‘African Queen’.

Blooms July–early November

Size: 12" – 18" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

And what a peach it is! Hailing from the Mexican hills above Ciudad Victoria, this shrubby, evergreen Salvia displays saturated coral flowers with buttery throats, nearly nonstop from the last frost to the first. Held by wine-tinged stems, the appealing small, glossy green foliage and cocoa-tinted calyxes offer a contrasting foil for the vividly colored blooms. Drought tolerant ‘Lowry’s Peach’ is prized by hummingbirds, and promises a lively show en masse in any sunny border. Regular pruning ensures continued bloom and a pleasing form.

Blooms May – October.

Size: 2-1/2' high x 2-1/2' wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Blooms June–mid October

Size: 18" – 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Zone 7/8a.

Plant aficionado Tom Peace helped establish this lavishly hued, west Texan’s notoriety. Quick to grow, full of vigor and more tolerant of cold damp winters than most greggii species, ‘Wild Thing’ promotes good-looking glossy green foliage and droves of bright cherry-pink flowers with contrasting wine-colored calyces. Plant next to Crocosmia ‘Fire King’ and Verbascum ‘Gainsborough’ for a wild enduring association.

Blooms June–September

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

An absolute favorite of our hummingbirds, this eye catching Salvia offers abundant, deep cobalt blue, tubular blooms and nearly black calyxes on 15 in. terminal flowering spikes all summer long. More compact than many of the guaranitica species, ‘Black and Blue’ provides complementary color for the shining blooms of Crocosmia ‘Star of the East’.

Blooms mid-July–October.

Size: 3-1/2' high x 3' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

Pennantlike spikes of large, Cambridge blue, tubular flowers and bright green calyxes proudly rise above the spade-shaped leaves, which cloak ‘Blue Ensign’s upright, but freely branching stance. A drift mid-border makes a compelling statement with the yellow-orange coloring of Euphorbia ‘Fern Cottage’s fall foliage nearby.

Blooms mid-July–October.

Size: 3-1/2' – 4' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Hailing from the cool highlands of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico, this vigorous Salvia volunteers hundreds of brilliant cardinal red, whorled blossoms in late fall. A yellow-green cast infuses young growth while mature leaves are darker green. Marked by light green grooves, the numerous, wine-infused lax stems become obscured by prominently veined triangular leaves, which taper to pronounced narrow tips.

Paying homage to Edward Holway, an American mycologist and plant collector who traveled to Mexico in the early 1900s, Salvia holwayi blooms all winter long in warmer areas, gracing its lush and bushy good-sized mass with much appreciated color and hummingbird food.

Grateful for a well drained, humus rich spot and a hard cut after blooming, it creates a verdant backdrop for the mixed border, an excellent conservatory plant in colder climates and a splendid long lasting cut flower when they’re aren’t many others around.

Blooms October–December.

Size: 4' 0" high x 4' 0" – 6' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Large and rounded, dusky magenta buds cluster at stem tips and open into brilliant pink, fuzzy tubular flowers toned down by deep purple calyxes. Handsome, dark green nearly heart-shaped leaves are arranged in pairs and complement red petioles on strong straight stalks.

Revered by hummingbirds, this bushy Salvia makes a perfect addition to the meadow garden, and along with Salvia ‘Nekan’ and Aster ‘Ochtendgloren’ augments a late season blend of blue and pink.

Blooms August–mid-October.

Size: 4' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Zone 8/9.

A hummingbird-friendly selection from Betsy Clebsch’s garden, ‘Mulberry Jam’ is smaller and more upright than the species. Large, rounded, dusky-magenta buds open into fuzzy, vibrant pink tubular flowers toned down by deep purple calyces. This lovely bush-like Salvia makes a perfect addition to the meadow garden with Salvia ‘Nekan’ and Aster ‘Ochtendgloren’ for a blend of late season blue and pink.

Blooms June–mid-October

Size: 4' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

One of the toughest cultivars of the species, this radiant long blooming Sage can handle a variety of growing conditions. Against a fine textured background of small, glossy green leaves, the watermelon-colored flowers are offset by red-hued stems and sable-colored calyxes. For echoes of warm color, pair ‘Pat Vlasto’ with Phygelius ‘African Queen’.

Blooms June–mid-October.

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Frances Parker of South Carolina discovered this unlikely cross and named it for her grandson. Blessed with attributes from both parents, ‘Anthony Parker’ features extraordinary, nearly 2 ft. long spires of midnight purple-black, leucantha-like flowers topping attractive leaves and young downy white stems. The broad-based, grayish green foliage tapers to a point, and displays a venation similar to Salvia elegans.

Gracing an herbaceous border or even an arrangement, this robust Salvia’s dark flowers will set Sedum ‘Autumn Fire’ aglow.

Blooms August?October.

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Discovered amongst a patch of Salvia hians by famed Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf, this distinctive 2009 introduction premiers 2 ft. tall branching spires with standout bicolored flowers swaying above a large bushy basal rosette. Appealing 7 in. long, lusty green leaves ground the sturdy upright stalks, which house copious whorled blooms, each with a blue-violet upper calyx, white lower lip and prominent, lanky blue-tipped niveous stigma. A hummingbird darling for the border or cottage garden, ‘Madeline’s undemanding verve prospers in sunny free-draining nooks, while her early summer blossoms are persistent, either outside or in a vase. (pp#20,456)

Blooms May–June

Size: 2' 0" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

The name of this charming Sage, long used by the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico for medicinal purposes, comes from the Greek words meaning fragrant and honeybee. Bees, moths, butterflies and hummingbirds alike are attracted to the sumptuous, nectar-laden panicles of pleasantly scented, periwinkle flowers and fuzzy, sable-colored calyxes.

Elegant leaves with downy silver undersides embellish its graceful upright presence.

Blooms May–October.

Size: 5' 0" – 6' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Lavish dark buds are a prelude to the striking compact whorls of fuzzy purple flowers and black calyxes displayed on 18 in. spikes. ‘Compton’s Form’ has distinctive, deep green polished foliage, a bit finer textured than that of ‘Limelight’, and an erect, bushy habit.

Blooms August – early November.

Size: 5' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Set against ‘Limelight’s large lush greenery, whorls of densely packed chartreuse terminal buds on strong upright stems heighten our anticipation. The amazing 2-toned floral effect takes center stage with deep bluish purple blooms peeking out from electric yellow-green calyces. Cut back each season to encourage new growth at the base and to maintain a pleasing shape.

Blooms August–early November

Size: 6' 0" high x 6' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Collected by the astute folks at Texas’s Yucca-Do nursery, ‘Tula’ wields brighter yellow calyxes plus a larger habit than its botanical rival Salvia ‘Limelight’. Nectar-rich deep blue-violet flowers along with the contrasting close-knit chartreuse calyxes embellish dazzling long spires, seducing plant enthusiasts, hummingbirds and butterflies alike. A bushy gathering of light-colored thick branching stems, draped in broad soft gray-green foliage, this leafy late season prismatic Salvia spices up mixed plantings, requires winter protection below 20 degrees and benefits from periodic spring and summer pruning.

Blooms August–early November

Size: 7' 0" high x 7' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Naming this natty Salvia "small leaves" is like identifying a Ferrari by its tires. The long blooming scarlet-red flowers and thick wine-red stems, which are inscribed with a notable silver-white stripe running down each side, provide dynamic counterpoints to pleasantly scented, lustrous green serrated leaves. Indigenous to southeastern Arizona and Mexico's mountainous regions, where it is known as "myrtle of the mountain", our cutting propagated strain forges a dense, shrubby evergreen patch. The proud parent of many popular cultivars, its steadfast good looks promise a lot of mileage.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Zone 8/9.

Touted as one of the best pink-colored microphyllas, these good-sized flowers are not shy in the least. With a full-bodied fuchsia pink hue, the freely borne blooms feature dark charcoal-tinged calyxes, hooded upper petals and prominent lower lips illuminated by singular white splotches. Peaking in spring, continuing through summer and ending with an autumn grand finale, the exuberant long lasting display energizes a bushy aromatic mass of wiry stems and green blunt-tipped, finely toothed leaves. This Salvia remains relatively root-hardy through chilly winters.

Blooms May – October.

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Big, brilliant and red, these lavishly colored flowers are double the size of any other microphylla or greggii. Blooming spikes and calyxes the color of dark chocolate dramatically present the plush-as-velvet showing, while a handsome, full bush of glossy, somewhat rounded rich green foliage supports it.

Introduced by Texas’s Yucca-Do Nursery and Scott Ogden, ‘Red Velvet’ thrives in warm, dry climates, can endure humidity and assures a vivacious presence, especially when partnered with Penstemon Chiapas sp.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 4' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Painted in pretty lipstick shades of cherry-red and magenta, slender whorled flower spikes festoon this shrubby evergreen Salvia. Warm, rosy brown calyxes and attractive ripple-edged green leaves heighten the showy long lasting blooms.

Introduced by Yucca-Do Nursery, the amenable ‘Hoja Grande’ hails from Mexico’s Nuevo Leon, and in our garden jazzes up neighboring Phlomis russeliana, while easily tolerating dry conditions whether the weather’s hot or cool.

Blooms May–June & September–October.

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 3' 0" – 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

This well-loved captivating Salvia celebrates a festival of color! Splashed with highly saturated magentas and lavish ruby throats, the dazzling flowers unfurl from sable-colored calyxes by the hundreds, beginning in spring and lasting through fall. Each textured medium green leaf emphasizes undulating serrated margins, a somewhat triangular shape and bronzy winter tones. Discovered in Tamaulipas, Mexico, ‘San Carlos Festival’s extraordinary floral abundance and attractive compact form can be staged right up front in a water wise garden.

Blooms May–November.

Size: 2' 0" high x 2-1/2' – 3' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

“Exuberant” best describes the way extra large, deep watermelon-pink flowers dress up this robust, relatively cold resistant Salvia.

Collected by Don Mahoney at 7000 ft. on Mexico’s Mt. Cerro Potosi, ‘Wild Watermelon’ not only boasts boisterously colored blooms with white-marked throats but neat good-looking foliage and a hardy crown that spreads by layering itself. Most abundant in spring and fall and only sporadically over the summer, its high-spirited floral hues invite a glance either spotlighted in a favorite pot, or backed by white blooming Cistus in the mixed border.

Blooms May–June & again in September–October.

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

Discovered as a chance seedling at California’s Suncrest Nursery, this long blooming Salvia inherits the most appealing traits of both its parents. The textural bluish green basal rosette of sturdy, wavy-edged broad leaves held by lanky petioles produces thick up-curved stalks, bearing whorled lavender blue flowers with purple spotted pale-hued lips. Ideal for a well-drained mixed border, Shangri-La Sage musters lovely pastel blooms, outstanding bold evergreen foliage and an undemanding mettle that requires reasonable drainage and moderate water.

Blooms May–July

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Zone 7b/8.

This long-blooming Salvia’s signature is its spectacular jewel-like tones. Firm burgundy-streaked leafy stalks boost the violet-blue blossoms that are lodged within enduring rosy-purple calyces, while wavy-edged foliage shapes a full handsome green habit. Softening the edge of our pathway alongside Origanum ‘Ed Carmine’, a purple theme is created and the addition of Kniphofia ‘Bee’s Sunset’ adds a lively yellow-orange splash.

Blooms early June–September

Size: 2-1/2' high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Boasting the largest flowers among the species, this award-winning Salvia is a recent Ball Horticultural introduction. Neat, spice-scented green foliage denotes the dwarf leafy foundation beneath a marvelous display of big rose-colored buds plus ample-sized, saturated deep violet-blue flowers with burgundy calyces. A reliable rebloomer when deadheaded and a haven for pollinators, carefree ‘Blue Marvel’ headlines show-stopping flower-power in a rock garden, butterfly bed, container or mixed border. (pp#27,018)

Blooms June–early October

Size: 10" – 12" high x 12" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Shaded by unique blackish magenta hues, the long straight stems of this superb cultivar make a dark and dazzling, lustrous foil for violet flowers that bloom well into fall with attentive deadheading. While its origins stem from a chance seedling found in a German nursery, ‘Caradonna’s tidy base of textured green foliage and purple blooms adds harmonious accents to neighbors like Sedum ‘Jose Aubergine’ in your garden.

Blooms July–early October

Size: 2' 0" – 2-1/2' high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Studded with radiant bluish violet flowers, crowded spires rise above a low growing shapely bed of textured green crimple-edged leaves. Persistent darker purple calyxes festoon the long lasting floral splendor, extending interest well after the tubular petals are spent. A compelling European cultivar that is hard to find in this country, ‘Negrito’ makes an ideal trouble free companion for the rosy hues of Origanum ‘Lizzie’s Hybrid #2’ and Sedum ‘Red Cauli’.

Blooms June–early October.

Size: 2' 0" – 2-1/2' high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

German for ‘Rose Wine’, let this Salvia bathe your garden with bright rose-hued flowers. Adorning a low mound of tidy green foliage, the upright leafy spikes are offset by prominent, dark earthy pink calyxes and buds of the same shade. Position in the front of the border with Geranium ‘Mavis Simpson’ and Kniphofia ‘Safranvogel’ for an intoxicating display.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 2' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

We have the Florensis Breeding Program to thank for this exciting new small-statured Salvia. A handsome bed of scalloped-edged, quilted green leaves hosts lovely deep lavender rose flowers with darker calyxes on short branching spires. Its profuse long lasting display, maintained by regular deadheading, and diminutive size make it just right for a container, along a path or anywhere space is limited. (pp#18,230)

Blooms May–August

Size: 12" – 15" high x 12" – 15" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Favored by prairie whiz Roy Diblik for its splendid pollinator-friendly spires, ‘Wesuwe’ has a lot to offer. Tasteful rich green leaves send forth dark stems, laden with droves of vibrant reddish violet flowers plus burgundy calyces for months. Equally at ease in a formal setting or a meadow garden, this Salvia’s upright, more relaxed stance responds well to pruning and is basically pest-free, thwarting occasional drought, bunnies and deer.

Blooms June–September

Size: 12" – 18" high x 18" – 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 3.

German for ‘threshold castle’, this hearty easy-care Salvia is both a visual feast and a pollinator’s mecca. The vibrant 2-lipped blooms are steeped in luscious rosy-purple shades as they crowd onto upright, multibranched spiky racemes from June ’til early fall. Beneath the drop-dead gorgeous flowers, notched lance-shaped grayish green leaves fashion a textural, aromatic woody-based clump that promises head-turning good looks, plus deer, rabbit and drought resistance.

Blooms June–September

Size: 15" – 20" high x 12" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

“Nubicola” means “dweller among the clouds,” and the name proclaims its hardiness. Clothed in large plentiful, arrow-shaped leaves, Himalayan Yellow Sage’s robust upright sticky stems buttress a wealth of yellow-flowered spires, with each uniquely colored bloom featuring tiny maroon spots plus an apple green calyx. Content in compost-rich, somewhat moist shady locations, this bushy perennial can be planted near Boltonia ‘Snowbank’ or Alcea ‘Blacknight’ to highlight its bold foliar vitality.

Blooms mid-August–October.

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 3-1/2' wide.

Zone 6b.

Though Linnaeus named this wildly unusual Salvia way back in the 1700s, you’ll be hard pressed to find it growing in anyone’s yard these days. Endemic to the Balkans, eastern Europe, Turkey and southwestern Russia, Nodding Sage sprouts an attractive low basal rosette clothed with large, textural arrowhead-shaped greenery beneath the perfect-for-cutting, pollinator-friendly posies, which look a bit like Wisteria blooms. The splendid, long-lasting blue-violet blossoms populate striking close-knit pendant clusters, gracefully flowing from the tips of sturdy, wide-branched, 4 ft. tall, reddish flowering stalks. Undeterred by hot humid summers, winter cold and light shade, Salvia nutans can embellish well-drained borders, rock gardens or natural-style plantings.

Blooms June–September

Size: 3' 0" – 4' 0" high x 12" – 18" wide.

Zone 5b/6.

A stylish offspring of Salvia leucantha and possibly Salvia chiapensis, this chance seedling, named for Phyllis Norris, originated at the U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum. It resembles Salvia ‘Waverly’, though its larger well-groomed frame is more hardy, its green leaves less coriaceous and its two-toned blooms more blue. Attention-grabbing foot long spires are embellished with fuzzy light lavender flowers, each tended by an inky-purple calyx that’s green beneath. ‘Phyllis’ Fancy’ enjoys moderate water, good drainage and survives temperatures to 8°, but will die back to its roots. 

Blooms August–October

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 4' 0" – 5' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

Hailed as one of the most drought tolerant plants in the trade, this tough-as-nails evergreen Salvia can handle a California summer without water, sandy or clay soil in either coastal, mountainous or desert gardens, and sports good looks to boot. Masses of sparkling blue-violet flowers populate spaced ball-shaped clusters atop a rounded, somewhat woody frame with aromatic ashy green leaves.

A chance seedling of Salvia clevelandii and Salvia leucophylla selected by Las Palitas Nursery owner Bert Wilson, ‘Pozo Blue’ makes a handsome addition to fresh or dried arrangements, as well as rocky banks and dry borders, while attracting butterflies, California Quail, hummingbirds, and plant enthusiasts. It can handle a California summer without water and sandy or clay soil in either coastal, mountainous or desert gardens.

Blooms June – October.

Size: 5' 0" high x 5' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

An irresistible 2014 Jelitto Perennial Seeds introduction, ‘Sky Dance’ debuts elegant light sky-blue flowers that are coveted by gardeners, honey bees, butterflies and florists. Offering additional blossoms after deadheading, the tall, dense long-blooming spires rise above tight set medium green rosettes, shaped by wrinkled oblong foliage. This rugged, quibble-free Salvia appreciates well-drained sites and handles light shade.

Blooms June–August

Size: 20" high x 12" wide.

Zone 3/4.

After years of breeding, Jelitto Seeds has just recently introduced this pure white Salvia. Rich green foliage with a wrinkled texture and ruffled margins forms a lush, leafy mound beneath the upstanding snowy spikes. Each delicate, luminous flower nestles in a calyx on a tiny pedestal of small green bracts.

Showy ‘Swan Lake’s species name translates as “growing in meadows,” referring to its sunny native European haunts. A natural for relaxed garden settings amid grasses, it easily accepts varied conditions, especially cold temperatures.

Blooms June–August.

Size: 20" high x 12" wide.

Zone 3/4.

Arising from Jelitto’s Meadow Ballet Series, this steadfast 2008 introduction features erect, tall spires dressed in pretty dark pink hooded flowers with rosy carmine tints on extended lower lips. Long-petioled, green crinkled leaves forge a handsome thick leafy mound, anchoring the vividly colored summer-long display that entices bees and doesn’t ask for much—only sunshine, deadheading and average garden soil.

Blooms June – August.

Size: 20" high x 12" wide.

Zone 3/4.

Back in 2005, Jelitto first introduced the Meadow Ballet Blend, an easy-to-grow hardy group of Meadow Clary Sages renowned for their richly hued, perfect-for-cutting floral spikes that unfurl within a year of being planted. ‘Twilight Serenade’ is the most recent individual color selection, boasting distinctively hooded, lavish blue-violet blossoms on upright 20 in. green stems above an attractive green rosette of ruffly toothed leaves.

Though the species is a sun-loving, European meadow denizen, this long blooming cultivar will look fantastic right up front in your garden accompanied by Bouteloua curtipendula and Elymus ‘Canyon Prince’.

Blooms June ? August.

Size: 20" high x 12" wide.

Zone 3/4.

Handsome troops of sturdy sable-colored branching stems curve up and out, delivering plump reddish violet blooms with white stamens and fuzzy mahogany calyxes in ornate widely spaced whorls. Described by long petioles and delineated veins on the flip sides, extremely large, bright green leaves compile a lush looking basal mound.

Populating Chinese rocky slopes, stream banks and forest margins, this Salvia is legendary for its medicinal attributes, prefers well-drained soil and is striking alongside Euphorbia longifolia’s chartreuse blooms.

Blooms July – August

Size: 18" – 2' 0" high x 2' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

A mainstay at the back of the border, this regal Salvia is a cross between Salvia guaranitica and Salvia gesneriiflora. Hummingbird-friendly spikes of vibrant violet-blue blooms rise above the textured mint green leaves, adding glorious color all summer until frost. ‘Purple Majesty’s upright stance and cool shades complement the warmer hues of Helianthus ‘Shelia’s Sunshine’ for a splendid autumn union.

Blooms June–early November

Size: 5' 0" – 6' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Zone 7/8.

A nectar-laden dream for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, tubular vivid purple flowers crowd onto scores of chubby, branched 6 to 10 in. long terminal panicles. The electrifying late season display, which spans 2 or 3 months, festoons a large handsome shrub-like silhouette characterized by vigorous outward-arching stems and serrated, prominently-veined green foliage with lighter flip sides. Relishing a well-drained, compost-enriched site and a half day of sun, this fast-growing deer-resistant Salvia needs winter protection around 25° and appreciates an early spring cut back to ensure a more compact appearance.

Blooms September–May

Size: 5' 0" – 6' 0" high x 4' 0" – 5' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Originally from the high mountains in Mexico, this plant comes to us from Jim Lockman of Oakland, California. It has a soft character with delicate blue flowers and fine textured, light green, spidery leaves, which grow on basal stems. You can cut it back for a second bloom before it disappears in winter. Salvia reptans is perfect in drifts, as an accent in the rockery, or contrasted with Rudbeckia ‘Swiss Gold’.

Blooms August–September.

Size: 15" high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

The richest shade of cobalt-blue saturates these late-blooming flowers as they ride a sea of tall stems clad in needle-like green leaves. Discovered in the Davis Mountains at 4000 ft. by Pat McNeal’s keen eye and closely related to Salvia pitcheri, this no-fuss Texas beauty is uniquely upright, while the species is lax. West Texas Form endures drought, poor rocky soil and humidity. An association with Gaura ‘Summer Breeze’ makes for a carefree look.

Blooms mid-August--September

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Zone 6/7.

This noble architectural Sage has been grown in almost every botanical sanctuary throughout human history. The catalog of its uses is extensive: a flavoring for wines and liqueurs; an oil for perfumes, potpourri and incense, while medicinally, it is reputed to ease stomach ailments and stop the aging process! Today, ‘Vatican White’ is cultivated for its stately vigorous bearing in the border. Large, gray-green leaves—lance-shaped and leathery—remain attractive throughout the season. Each stalwart stem is topped with widely branching panicles of pure white blossoms and big, brilliant whorled white bracts, which lend a floral effect from May to September. Clary Sage requires little water or attention, but insists on excellent drainage. 

Blooms June–July

Size: 2-1/2' high x 2' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Intricate bicolored flowers, a lovely blend of lilac-colored upper petals and midnight purple lower lips, are held by muted pink calyxes against a foil of handsome, dark green, textured foliage. Perfect for the rocky border or atop a wall where its detail can be enjoyed at eye level, this small-leafed hardy Mexican native combines well with Phygelius and Geranium ‘Buxton’s Variety’ and its long lasting blooms make an excellent addition to any flower arrangement.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Discovered by Art Petty of Austin, Texas, this dream Salvia cross inherits the best qualities of both its parents. Like darcyi, it features fantastically colored blooms, and like microphylla, its good-looking stance is short and compact.

Summer brings plentiful, 15 in. spikes of warm-hued, dark orange-red flowers and by fall, the round-tipped, somewhat reflective green foliage is completely blanketed by them. Renown for an easy going, stalwart and floriferous nature, ‘Silke’s Dream’ tantalizes us with its passionate display, while counterposing Salvia corrugata’s deep blue spires.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 2' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 7.

Indigenous to the Mexican province Sinaloa, this compact bushy Salvia displays tantalizing color. Low growing stems initially trail on the ground, concealed by dark green, textured leaves infused with plum-purple hues, and bronze-tinted new growth. Well above the narrow foliage, deep blue, airy, upright spikes feature spaced whorls of sable calyxes and vivid flowers marked with two subtle white lines on each lower lip.

A charmer for the border’s edge, a stone wall or the rock garden, Salvia sinaloensis spreads by underground rhizomes, disappears in the winter, and appreciates well drained soil.

Blooms June–October.

Size: 6" – 10" high x 15" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.

Witness the unbeatable late season floral display atop a neat loosely branched foundation and you’ll see why acclaimed designer Piet Oudolf named this selection for his wife. Heightened by white-rimmed lips and dark magenta calyces, the bee-friendly profusion of close-set iridescent blue-violet blossoms populate erect, slim, purple-stemmed spires all summer long. Appreciative of well-rotted compost and good drainage, aromatic lance-shaped medium green leaves with scalloped edges and slightly hairy flip sides characterize ‘Dear Anja’s winsome clumping habit that makes a stalwart addition to coastal plantings, borders and natural-style gardens.

Blooms July–September

Size: 18" – 2-1/2' high x 18" – 2-1/2' wide.

Hardy to zone 4.

Coined ‘Dancer’ by Ernest Pagels, the esteemed plantsman who introduced it, this reliable AGM winner unfurls a replete pollinator’s mecca of tall graceful spires packed with rich violet-blue flowers plus vibrant reddish bracts and calyces. Crinkled lanceolate green leaves offer scented textural appeal beneath the long-lasting prismatic blossoms. A winsome semievergreen hybrid between nemorosa and pratensis, ‘Tanzerin’s snug bushy clump can be planted alongside Achillea ‘Inca Gold’ and Hemerocallis citrina, while obliging coastal conditions, various soil types and cold winters.

Blooms June–August

Size: 2' 0" – 2-3/4' high x 12" – 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Uliginosa means "of the marshes", in this case those between the forests of southern Brazil and Argentina's fertile pampas. Eye-catching white flecked azure blue flowers soar atop slender branching stems lined with narrow lance-shaped green leaves. A quick-to-establish colonizing perennial, Bog Sage presents an airy, strong and erect habit that doesn't need staking and flourishes in moist niches along streams or ponds and in ordinary garden conditions, even tolerating heavy or dry soil. For a spectacular effect, plant it alongside Anemone 'Andrea Atkinson'.

Blooms August–October.

Size: 4' 0" – 5' 0" high x 15" & spreading wide.

Hardy to zone 6.

Selected by Lauren Springer and Scott Ogden in Ft. Collins, Colorado, this fantastic new hybrid originated from a hummingbird initiated cross between Salvia lycioides and Salvia greggii. Legions of iridescent deep violet-pink 2-lipped blooms dazzle upright flower spikes and fine cut glistening deep green foliage that shapes a compact rounded habit. Cold hardy ‘Ultra Violet’ lures butterflies, appreciates well-drained soil, withstands drought, rabbits and deer, and looks ultra-fine in just about any landscape. (uspp#21,411)

Blooms June–September.

Size: 18" – 20" high x 2' 0" – 2-1/4' wide.

Zone 5b.

Hailing from the warm, moist mountainous haunts of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras, this tender, yet irresistible Salvia produces inch long, whorled deep blue-violet flowers on short stalks above a verdurous semi-upright mass. Lax stems carry velvety soft, dark green textured leaves that are deltoid in shape and saw-toothed along the margins. Tended by green calyxes, the long blooming flowers feature unusual incurved lower lips with light undersides and provide a cool-colored late season fanfare, complementing roses and pink or white blooming Asters.

A topnotch container specimen, Blue Bush Sage needs to be protected when temperatures drop to 30°.

Blooms August – November.

Size: 2' 0" – 3' 0" high x 2' 0" – 3' 0" wide.

Zone 9/10.

This showy Salvia makes a dazzling container plant. The large, layered, burgundy buds have pointed sepals and open into numerous dark carmine-colored flowers with wine-red calyxes. Intriguing raised red ridges run horizontally around the stems at regular intervals like rungs on a ladder, connecting the reddish leaf petioles of each pair of opposite leaves.

Be sure to provide winter protection, as Salvia vanhoutii is hardy only in warmer climates.

Blooms July–October.

Size: 4' 0" high x 4' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 9.

Ornate closely spaced whorls of tiny 2-lipped, warm rosy-purple flowers adorn lengthy, lax, upright and arching stems that rise from a fuzzy-looking, compact rounded base. A friend to bees, butterflies and other visitors, long-lasting showy blooms linger above broad, textural somewhat triangular medium green leaves. Favoring good drainage and a trimming after the flowers fade, ‘Purple Rain’ abides lean, rocky and dry sites plus imparts a noteworthy presence to rock walls, borders or wilder settings.

Blooms June–October

Size: 18" high x 18" wide.

Hardy to zone 5.

Like a well planned composition, this Salvia blends white fuzzy flowers, blushed with the palest of pinks and predominate purple calyxes against a graceful foil of textured grayish green foliage.

Given to us by David Salmon of High Country Gardens, we planted it in front of Cotinus ‘Grace’, whose leaves repeat the deep color of ‘Santa Barbara’s calyxes.

Blooms late June–early November.

Size: 3' 0" high x 3' 0" wide.

Hardy to zone 8.