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Salvias - The Hardy Sages |
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(The Tender Sages are on the Salvias2
page) |
The Sages are a large genus, up
to 800 species, of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. The flowers are tubular, with two
lips, the lower one usually spreading. Flower color is generally red or blue, but pink,
white, and even yellow are possible. Most bloom in late summer and fall. Salvias require
sun and a well drained soil. Some of these are not really hardy here in Zone
6 but they
provide such spectacular color in the garden at the end of the season that we would not do
without them. Northern gardeners may consider growing them as annuals. Most strike easily
from cuttings and they can be wintered indoors with a minimum of trouble.
Our Salvia collection has grown so large that we've had to divide it into two pages. The tender sages are on the Salvias2
page. We also have a
Salvia Gallery of images. Not all of the Salvias pictured in the
gallery are available at any one time. These are the species
that we judge to be relatively cold hardy. It includes plants that are
reliably hardy in Zone 7 (or colder) and those that will only
survive a mild winter there. A cultural note: many times cold is not
the only factor in winter losses. Many of these Sages do not tolerate
wet conditions when they are dormant. Situating those plants in a well
drained soil or on a slope can be very helpful. |
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Salvia guaranitica ‘Black & Blue’
will survive a mild winter in our
area. The clear blue flowers (without a hint of purple) come on long
spikes in summer through fall. The black stems and bracts hold up the
dark blue flowers. We have customers that consider this Sage a necessity
in their blue, pink, and white border plans. |
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553500 Salvia ‘Black & Blue’ Add
to Cart
Sun / 3-4' / Zone8-10 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95
ea. |
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Salvia ‘Indigo
Spires’ has become a very long flowering staple in our summer and
fall border. The dark purple flower spikes are very long, frequently
curving. The entire plant has an open, informal habit. |
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53900 Salvia 'Indigo Spires'
Add
to Cart
Sun / 3-4' / Zone7-10 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95
ea. |
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Salvia uliginosa,
the Bog Sage, is a late summer to fall bloomer with azure blue
flowers on a steadily spreading plant. It’s too aggressive for a formal
area but is great in a naturalized area. |
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56100 Salvia uliginosa
Add
to Cart
Sun / 3-4’ / Zone7-10 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95
ea.
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Salvia niponica
‘Fuji Snow’ is very new and very different! It has unique 3”
arrow shaped leaves that have an attractive white variegation along the
edge. The blooms are 8” spikes of 1” pale yellow flowers.
As a shady groundcover. |
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555100 Salvia niponica ‘Fuji Snow’
Add
to Cart
Part Shade-Sun / 2' / Zone5-8 / Summer Bloom / Quart Pots /
$8.95 ea. |
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Salvia greggii is a southwestern
native with small leaves and woody stems, a small shrub in its home
range, but a herbaceous perennial further north. They come in a wide
range of colors and are especially valuable for mid to late summer
blooms that continue well into the fall. Once established they will
tolerate considerable dryness. In our experience Salvia greggii will
survive mild winters here in the open ground. There is conflicting
information about the relative hardiness of individual cultivars. |
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552480 Salvia greggii ‘Alba’ Sold
Out
Sun-Part Shade /
2-3' / Zone8-10 /
Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea.
The pure white flowered form. |
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552550 Salvia ‘California Sunset’
Add
to Cart
Sun-Part Shade /
2-3' / Zone8-10 /
Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea.
A beautiful peachy orange blend. A great color. |
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553050 Salvia greggii ‘Plum Wine’
Sold Out
Sun-Part Shade /
2-3' / Zone8-10 /
Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea.
Plum purple flowers and good form. Recommended by Betsy Clebsch. |
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53850 Salvia greggii ‘Hot Lips’
Add
to Cart
Sun-Part Shade /
2-3' / Zone8-10 /
Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea.
A new form with bicolor white and red flowers. Although sometimes
the flowers are just solid red, sometimes solid white. Sometimes all
three on the plant at the same time. |
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Salvia
‘Maraschino’ is a Salvia greggii, microphylla, grahamii cross
from Salvia guru Richard Dufresne’s garden. The large, bright red
flowers are produced over a long season. One of the hardiest forms. |
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52850 Salvia 'Maraschino'
Add
to Cart
Sun-Part Shade / 3-4’ / Zone8-10 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart
Pots / $8.95 ea.
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Salvia
‘Raspberry Royale’ is probably a Salvia greggii hybrid, with
rich wine-raspberry blooms on a compact, shrubby plant.
Recommended by Betsy Clebsch. |
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555600 Salvia ‘Raspberry Royale’ Add
to Cart
Sun-Part Shade /
2-3' /
Zone8-10 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart Pots / $8.95 ea. |
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Salvia microphylla is very like
Salvia greggii with only minor details of the flower parts
distinguishing the 2 species.
Salvia microphylla
‘San Carlos Festival’ has extra large bright raspberry flowers
from mid summer through fall. |
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554800 Salvia ‘San Carlos Festival’ Sold
Out
Sun-Part Shade / 18-24” / Zone8-10 / Summer-Fall Bloom / Quart
Pots / $8.95 ea. |
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