Perennial Salvias (also known as “sage”) are mainstays of the midsummer garden border—blooming summer to autumn! Planted in the spring, these aromatic beauties are great for cutting and beloved by bees and butterflies—plus, they’re drought-tolerant! See how to plant, grow, and care for Salvia.
Part of the mint family (Lamiaceae), salvias appear as a colorful spike of densely-packed flowers with tubular blossoms atop square stems and velvety leaves.
The common kitchen herb garden sage—Salvia officinalis—is actually a type of salvia; it’s a relative of the many ornamental species and has a few attractive ornamental varieties itself.
Hummingbirds and butterflies love salvia’s tubular flowers and they’re adored by bees, too, so plant them if you wish to attract these pretty pollinators!
Fortunately, salvia does not tend to attract deer or rabbits. It is the distinctive, pungent odor of their leaves that acts as a repellent to garden pests.
Salvia are heat- and drought-tolerant, making them survivors in the summer garden. They grow 18 inches to 5 feet tall, depending on the variety.
Salvias of all types can be grown in containers, too.
Take care when choosing salvias, because not all plants are hardy in all regions; some are best treated as annuals, but perennial varieties are also available.
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How to grow Salvia seeds??
Do you have any suggestions on growing from seed in Zones 5 + 6?
Salvia from Seed
Salvia are fairly easy to grow, thankfully! Just be sure to keep them well watered while they’re young seedlings, especially as hot summer temperatures arrive.
Salvia
My salvia plug plants a very strong but all of the new leaves coming through are yellow. They are all strong butt the older leaves are dark green!
why yellow leaves?
Plant leaves often turn yellow from overwatering or soil that holds too much water (doesn’t drain). However, it also could be due to poor soil conditions. For example, it may be a lack of nitrogen (the N in NPK, on a fertilizer package). You can add organic compost to the soil. It could also be poor / too high a soil pH (acidity/alkalinity). Do a pH test and adjust accordingly; see here for more details: https://www.almanac.com/plant-ph
Hope this helps!
watering salvias in hot, dry mountain area
They say these need to be watered regularly but mine are all dying back and turning black. I must be doing something wrong. Seems they do better with little water during the summer.
Salvia care
Thank you for the helpful info on caring for Salvias. My plants are attracting many pollinators including honey bees, bumble bees, butterflies, and humming birds.
Your website
Just found this. It's awesome! Thank you for such succinct and practical information.