Explore 16 Stunning Salvia Varieties for Colorful Gardens

Keep deadheading this AGM-winning salvia for flowers from late spring to mid-fall. It can survive winter if kept in frost-free conditions and requires a sunny, sheltered site with well-drained soil.

3. Salvia 'Penny's Smile'

• Height: 4ft (1.2m)
• Best for: tall displays

Salvia 'Penny's Smile' stands tall with mid-green leaves that persist through mild winters, featuring lovely magenta-pink flowers from late summer to fall.

This variety may need climbing support in windy areas and is suited for cuttings in autumn.

4. Salvia 'Hot Lips' AGM

• Height: 39in (1m)
• Best for: mixed color

Salvia 'Hot Lips' is a popular and hardy cultivar known for its amazing cherry red and white flowers, fitting perfectly into bold garden schemes.

This AGM-winning salvia blooms from late summer to fall, showcasing bi-colored flowers that may sometimes appear all-red or all-white.

5. Salvia 'Jemima's Gem' (Jemco)

• Height: 39in (1m)
• Best for: colorful containers

Vibrant and hardy, this shrubby perennial features bright pink-red flowers that stand out beautifully in gardens. It requires protection in very cold or exposed areas.

'Jemima's Gem' is perfect for pots or borders and can provide color from mid-spring through early winter.

6. Salvia greggii 'Icing Sugar'

• Height: 28-39in (70-100cm)
• Best for: drought tolerance

Known as autumn sage, Salvia greggii 'Icing Sugar' is a prolific bloomer from mid-summer to late fall. This salvia produces lovely dark and pale pink two-tone flowers.

Its small, aromatic leaves exhibit excellent drought tolerance once established, though some winter protection may be needed in severe frost zones.

7. Salvia × sylvestris 'Blue Marvel'

• Height: 24-36in (60-90cm)
• Best for: blue flowers

This impressive, hardy salvia is perfect for small gardens. Salvia × sylvestris 'Blue Marvel' is excellent for sunny borders, pathways, and containers.

It boasts upright, deep purple-blue flower spikes, larger than those of other species, ensuring a consistent display all summer long.

8. Salvia 'Blue Note'

• Height: 20in (50cm)
• Best for: dainty plants

Although modest in size, Salvia 'Blue Note' captivates with its striking royal blue flowers.

This evergreen variety thrives if not cut back by frost and features small, rounded, downy leaves.

9. Salvia 'Dyson's Joy'

• Height: 20-24in (50-60cm)
• Best for: little perennials

Also known as just 'Joy,' this elegant perennial blooms from late spring to mid-fall, thriving in sunny borders.

Its delightful aromas come from the two-tone pink flowers with maroon-purple bases, carried on loose spikes above a clump of fragrant mid-green leaves.

10. Salvia leucantha AGM

• Height: 4ft (1.2m)
• Best for: butterflies

This evergreen salvia features dense, arching flower spikes that bloom in late summer and fall. Its bicolor flowers have purple calyces and white corollas, lasting beautifully in the garden.

Mexican bush sage attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial pollinators, making it a fantastic addition to any garden.

11. Salvia 'Vatican White'

• Height: 28-39in (70-100cm)
• Best for: white flowers

This salvia is not only beautiful but also an excellent nectar source. 'Vatican White' flourishes in poor, dry soil, becoming bushier in fertile conditions.

This cultivar features large ivory blooms with green buds, ideal for attracting pollinators.

12. Salvia 'Purple Rain'

• Height: 28-39in (70-100cm)
• Best for: dramatic blooms

This vibrant salvia is notable for its striking appearance, favored by renowned designer Piet Oudolf, creator of New York's High Line.

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' has soft, hairy mid-deep green leaves and rounded clusters of rich purple flowers throughout summer.

13. Salvia Love and Wishes

• Height: 28-39in (70-100cm)
• Best for: patios

Bred in Australia, this charming perennial from the Wish Series features aromatic, dark green leaves and produces abundant red-purple and deep burgundy blooms from late spring to mid-fall.

'Love and Wishes' is excellent for attracting pollinators, and its bushy habit makes it perfect for patio containers.

14. Salvia 'Icterina' (common sage)

• Height: 20-39in (50-100cm)
• Best for: kitchen gardens

For kitchen gardens, Salvia officinalis 'Icterina' is ideal. Its dwarf sub-shrub leaves are aromatic with a peppery taste, perfect for flavoring meats, sauces, and cheeses.

These evergreen salvias are also suitable for small gardens, showcasing variegated light and dark green leaves and pale lavender-blue flowers in summer.

15. Salvia lavandulifolia

• Height: H: 24-28in (60-70cm)
• Best for: fragrance

Narrow-leaved sage offers delightful fragrance with its grey-green leaves and light blue-mauve flowers attractive to bees.

This variety is perfect for culinary use, with a stronger flavor than common sage, ideal for stuffings and sauces.

16. Salvia 'Tangerine'

• Height: H: 24in (60cm)
• Best for: fruity aromas

Salvia elegans 'Tangerine' enchants with summer red flower spikes. This tender perennial can be treated as a houseplant in winter.

Its aromatic leaves resemble tangerines and can enhance fruit drinks, cocktails, and salads.

FAQs

Which salvia varieties are hardy?

Many salvia species endure mild weather and heat. Varieties like 'Hot Lips,' 'Purple Rain,' and 'Jemima's Gem' are notably hardy. The hardiest types include microphylla and patens. However, hardiness can vary by species; some perennial and hybrid salvias may be tender. In frost-prone areas, treat them as annuals. Generally, winter wetness affects salvia survival. Ensure your soil is well-draining for optimal growth.

With over 900 salvia species and numerous hybrids, these include shrubs, annuals, and perennials.

Tender perennials can often be grown as annuals in colder regions. The Lamiaceae family encompasses diverse salvia varieties, from ornamental to culinary types.

Salvia types often mentioned include 'shrub-forming,' 'herbaceous,' and 'rosette-forming,' each requiring specific care and maintenance, especially regarding pruning.