Salvia - Plant Encyclopedia Results

Silver Sage (Salvia argentea) grows to only 2-5 feet in height and width, and prefers sunny, dry location with excellent drainage. The plant requires moderate water and, with regular irrigation, should not be allowed to dry out too much. Though many people love Silver Sage because of its ornamental foliage, it does display small white and off-white flowers in mid to late summer.

Plant thrives in USDA Zones 5-9. Care when growing Silver Sage in colder regions involves planting in a pot and bringing it inside for the winter when night temperatures threaten to drop below freezing, using it as an attractive and fragrant source of houseplant for the winter months. The soil should be allowed to almost dry out between waterings, and during the winter months the plant should remain in a cool, bright spot in the home. When Spring arrives water the plant more frequently and move it to a protected, sunny location outdoors. Once the plant is back outside, water pots deeply to encourage new growth.

Silver Sage is an excellent choice for rock gardens and for perennial borders, where it will add silvery-blue foliage to the garden in the Summer months. Plants are best grouped as single specimen or in a clumping mass as a ground cover. It's also a great plant for mass plantings and can also be grown in containers, raised beds and window boxes.

Salvia aurea is an aromatic, hardy shrub with unusually colored flowers borne over a long period. It is fairly fast-growing, up to 2 m and very attractive to wildlife.

Flowering begins in early spring, and the bright yellow flowers soon fade to rusty-orange and then reddish brown. After the petals fall, the saucer-like calyx, which becomes papery with age, remains as an added attraction. The flowers are both attractive and a curiosity. The flowers contain a lot of sweet nectar which attracts bees and moths, and acts as an essential food supply for sunbirds, particularly when proteas are not flowering. The flowers are complimented by greyish-green, aromatic foliage.

This is an excellent choice for coastal gardens, as it prefers light, well-drained soil and full sun, tolerates strong winds, and is drought resistant. It has been cultivated successfully further inland and upcountry, as it is capable of resprouting from its rootstock it recovers suitably from frost damage, but preferably try to find it a warm sheltered spot in the garden if you live in a frosty area.

For more prolific growth, water well and give it plenty of compost/mulch. Brown salvia is easily propagated by stem cuttings, or seed sown in spring.

The species was once referred to as Salvia afr. lutea (expanded as africana lutea), but this name is now considered obsolete.

Long spikes of deep indigo blue, tubular flowers are borne continuously from spring to frost on this vigorous perennial Salvia. Salvia 'Indigo Spires' is a cross between Salvia longispicata and Salvia farinacea. The plant was discovered as a chance hybrid at the Huntington Botanical Gardens, growing near the presumed parent plants.

What's more, this Salvia also serves an ethnomedical purpose: its leaves, when crushed, can be used to treat a cough, headache, fever and sore throat.

From a landscaping perspective, Hot Lips is a small, bushy shrub reaching between 2 and 5 feet high. Outdoors, it prefers full sun for best flowering results. Foliage is slightly woolly, silver-green and aromatic. The flowers are bright pink, with occasional off-white. They are also very fragrant, making this plant a great choice for any garden.

In terms of water requirements, Hot Lips needs regular moisture when actively growing and flowering, but can handle a bit of drought once established. As an evergreen, it keeps its foliage in most winter climates. It's mature plants can ad not only color and interest to the winter garden, but also a bit of cold hardiness as low as the mid-20's F for short duration.

As long as gardeners are able to give Hot Lips the full sun and regular water it needs, it will thrive. For gardeners in colder regions, it is especially suited for planting in a pot and bringing indoors during winter. It can handle temperatures down to 30F for brief periods of time if it is kept in a pot. During the winter, water the plant sparingly, and fertilize it with a slow-release fertilizer in the spring and early summer.

Light: Does best in full sun but can tolerate intermittent shade. Moisture: Tolerates drought, but flowering suffers without supplemental watering during dry spells.

This small shrub measures between 2 and 5 feet tall and performs best in full sun and moderate water. Salvia dolomitica is a great option for gardeners looking to add both color and fragrant foliage to their landscape. The ornamental foliage of this South African Sage is deep green and will fit any landscaping style. The pink flowers attract numerous butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden.

Planting and Growing Salvia dolomitica is best in the USDA Hardiness Zones 9-11. It is drought tolerant and tolerates a variety of soil conditions. Generally, it is a very low maintenance plant, however, it requires well-draining soil with moderate waterings. Pruning may be necessary in order to keep the shape of the plant and encouraging more flowering.

For those who live in cooler climates, this plant can be grown in a pot with some caution. To help protect it from the cold temperatures, the pot should be placed in an area of the garden that receives full sun and has some protection from the wind. The pot should also be filled with a fast-draining soil, and during winter, the soil should be kept slightly moist. Mulch around the plants will also help to protect the roots during colder weather. With the proper care and protection, Salvia dolomitica is sure to bring many years of beauty to the garden.

Violet-blue spikes rest on a compact plant of typically narrow salvia-like leaves; however, the shiny leaves are what set this species apart from most other Salvia, which bear velvety-dull leaves. Cultivars are available in various shades of blue, purple, lavender, white and bicolor.

The small shrubs reach heights between 2-5 feet.

Salvia guaranitica is a small shrub native to South America, with fragrant ovate leaves with a fresh mint green color, and an anise scent when crushed. The flowers are a unique mix of blue, lavender, and purple shades, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds.

This small shrub should be planted in full sun or semi-shade locations and watered regularly. Salvia guaranitica can handle moderate water but will benefit from regular irrigation. Mature plants have proven cold hardy at least to mid 20s F for a short time and should be grown in USDA Zone 8-10.

When planting Salvia guaranitica in cold regions, pot it and select the warmest location you can find for it. Move it in when the temperature drops below freezing and move it back out when temperatures rise to the minimum hardiness rank. When bringing it in, make sure to keep it well-watered, as it's harder for the plants to get water when they are indoors in containers. During the colder months, ensure that it gets plenty of light and never let it sit in a waterlogged environment.

Salvia lanceolata is suitable as a specimen plant or used in an informal shrub border.

Salvia lanigera, commonly known as Wooly Sage, is a small shrub native to Northern Egypt and Arabia. It has single-stemmed, erect, hairy branches and is often 2-5 ft tall. The leaves of the plant are soft pale gray-green and emit a pungent aroma when touched. It produces a profusion of sky-blue, lavender or purple flowers with a protruding upper lip.

To keep the plant healthy and blooming, it should be planted in full sun and watered moderately. When drought occurs, the plant can survive in dry conditions. It prefers a nutrient-rich soil and needs occasional feeding with a balanced fertilizer to promote new growth and abundant blooms. Wooly Sage is best suited in warm temperature climates and is winter hardy in USDA Zone 9-11.

In colder regions, it can be grown in containers and stored indoors during winter months to protect it from extreme cold. For indoor planting, use a well-drained potting mix and keep the soil lightly moist but not soaked. Place the pot in a location with indirect light and water when the surface of the potting mix starts to dry out. It is also important to provide adequate humidity for this plant to flourish indoors. A pebble tray filled with water or humidifiers can help to keep the air moist. Proper ventilation is equally important to prevent the buildup of molds and mildews.

Ultimately, Salvia lanigera is an excellent choice for a low-maintenance garden and can make a beautiful addition to a sunny, warm garden setting. With its cheerful blue, lavender and purple blooms, the Wooly Sage will reward you with its beauty and aroma for many months of the year.