Information about Salvia
Botanical name: Salvia sp.
Common name: Sage
Flowering time: Summer, fall
Flower colors: Purple, pink, red, white, blue, yellow
Height: up to 3 feet
Salvia is a large genus of plants estimated at nearly 1000 species, commonly named sages. Sages come with a multitude of sizes, shapes, colors fragrances and blooming periods. They also can be treated as annuals, biennials or perennials. All Salvias have in common the need for full sun and well-drained soil. Well mixed in your garden, Sages can give you long periods of flowering with a large choice of colors.
Planting Salvia
Usually, Salvias are full sun plants but some species can grow well in partial shade. They need rich well-drained soils, so consider to add some sand and organic matter to improve texture.
Salvias are not frost tolerant, they need heat all the time. To avoid frost risk, start you Salvia indoor in late winter in pots, provide heat and bright light, and wait for the cold period to pass before transplanting it in your garden.
If you are willing to plant directly in the ground, do it after the risks are gone:
- Dig a hole twice the diameter of the pot
- Put a layer of compost in the hole
- Put the plant in the hole considering to place the top of root ball in the same level with soil surface
- Gently fill around the plant
- Water it closely
- The plants must be 1 to 3 feet apart depending on the species (width)
Caring for Salvia plant
Watering
An excess of moisture in
Pruning
Properly dead-heading Salvias may get you more blooming volume and period. Pruning must be done once or twice every year, just follow each flower stem from the top to the first point of branching where new buds are formed and cut the stem just above the branch point.
Fertilizing
Salvias tolerate poor soil and most of
Recommended Salvia species
Annual Salvias
Saucy Red (Salvia splendens): It grows up to 3 feet, red blooming all the summer.


Sallyfun Deep Ocean (Salvia farinacea): 2-3 feet, violet-blue blooming all the summer.


Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans): 2-3 feet, red blooming all the summer


Pineapple Sage
Perennial Salvias
Red Swing (Salvia greggii): 2 feet, red blooming all the summer.


May Night (Salvia sylvestris): 2 feet, purple-blue blooming late spring and late summer.


Blue Flame (Salvia pachyphylla): 3 feet, pink-blue blooming all the summer

