Salvia
Salvia
There are few gardens that don’t have at least one salvia growing in them. Whether you have sun or shade, a dry garden or lots of rainfall, there’s an annual salvia that you’ll find indispensable. All attract hummingbirds, especially the red ones, and are great picks for hot, dry sites where you want tons of color all season. Most salvias don’t like cool weather, so plant them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Light: Part sun, Sun
Type: Annual, Herb
Height: 1 to 3 feet
Width: 1 foot wide
Flower color: Blue, Pink, Red, White
Seasonal features: Fall bloom, Summer bloom
Problem solvers: Drought tolerant
Special features: Attracts birds, Fragrance, Good for containers, Low maintenance
How to Grow Salvia
Salvia is also referred to as sage in many different types of salvia. Learning how to grow salvia varies among the different types of salvia too. They can be planted from seeds, seedlings or cuttings when the soil has warmed outside, following the last frost date.
You can plant salvia in average soil in a sunny to partly shady location for most varieties. Some growing salvia plants, however, such as Japanese yellow sage (Salvia koyamae), like shade and rich moist soil. When planting different types of salvia with which you are not familiar, research each plant to find their preferred growing conditions.
Care of Salvia Plants
A member of the mint family, the care of salvia plants is moderate with most growing salvia varieties.
Requirements with watering, as with growing, varies among the different salvias, but most prefer to dry out between waterings to ½ an inch deep.
Fertilization with a time-release plant food encourages growth and more flowering spikes.
Salvias flower on spiky racemes or panicles rising above the plant. When blooms are spent, remove these spikes to encourage additional flowering. If the salvia plant begins to look tired or overgrown by midsummer, you can also remove one third of the plant. Salvia plants will regrow and reward you with blooms that last until autumn.
