Salvia (Sage)
Sage

Deciduous Perennial in the Lamiaceae Family

About Sages

Salvia is a garden overachiever in a purple suit—blooming nonstop, buzzing with bees, and totally unfazed by Chicagoland's heat or humidity. It's low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and pollinator-approved. Whether you want bold color, fragrant foliage, or a butterfly magnet, Salvia delivers. Plant it once, and enjoy the encore all season long.

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. They are also drought-tolerant.

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. Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. 

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.

Pros

  • A top choice for pollinator gardens: Salvia's tubular flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds 
  • Long bloom season
  • Wide variety of colors and sizes
  • Deer, rabbit, and drought tolerant

Cons

  • Be sure to check the label: Only some Salvias are cold hardy...
  • Deadheading and pruning may be needed for best blooms and appearance
  • Relatively short-lived perennials
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 12 - 48 inches tall. 12 - 48 inches wide.
Sun Exposure Full Sun - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Salvias are relatively heat and drought tolerant, although regular watering encourages continuous blooming from early summer until frost.
Zones 4a - 10b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Extended Bloom Time, Filler, Formal Garden, Fragrant Flowers, Fragrant Foliage, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Dried Flowers, Good for Mass Planting, Good for Rain Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Hot Dry Site, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Salt, Well-Drained Soil
Bloom Period May - October
Animals That Use It

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Rankings
 

Related Articles
 

More Info from Experts

Commonly Planted with...

Verbena, dahlia, zinnia, Shasta daisy, petunia, marigold, goldenrod, day lilies, daffodils, coreopsis and others that enjoy sunny locations and well-drained soil.

Photos of This with...

Tri-Color Beech, Margarita Sweet Potato Vine, Russian Sage, Coneflower,
 

Salvia Available Now

Marcus Salvia
(Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus')
From $10.81

Caradonna Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna')
From $8.75

East Friesland Meadow Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland' EAST FRIESLAND)
From $10.63
Rose Wine Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Rosenwein' ROSE WINE)
From $10.65

Golden Sage
(Salvia officinalis 'Aurea')
From $42.00

May Night Wood Sage
(Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht' MAY NIGHT)
From $9.13

Snow Hill Wood Sage
(Salvia x sylvestris 'Schneehugel' SNOW HILL)
From $10.65

Wesuwe Sage
(Salvia x sylvestris 'Wesuwe')
From $10.81

Color Spires Crystal Blue Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Crystal Blue')
From $12.13

Blue Marvel Salvia
(Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Marvel')
From $68.40

Color Spires Pink Dawn Salvia
(Salvia nemorosa 'Pink Dawn')
From $12.13

Rose Marvel Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Rose Marvel')
From $10.81

Salvatore Blue Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Salvatore Blue')
From $10.81

Sixteen Candles Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Sixteen Candles')
From $10.81

Blue By You Sage
(Salvia 'Blue By You')
From $10.81

Blue Hill Woodland Sage
(Salvia nemorosa 'Blue Hill')
From $59.40

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Limited Availability

We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


Estimated Recipe Cost

The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.


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