Salvia

By Kit Smith

UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County

for Mountain Democrat 9/18/2024

The color you might be seeing in gardens this late summer may be from the beloved Salvia. It adds so much to our viewing pleasure. No wonder they are one of the most popular garden ornamentals. There are just under 1,000 species, 19 of which have California origins.

Salvia is the largest genus of Lamiaceae, the mint family. Sage is the common name for Salvia. The structure of the flower sets the sage apart from the rest of the mint family.

Salvia comes in all colors and sizes. It can range from an 18-inch groundcover to a five-foot shrub and is evergreen, deciduous, perennial, biennial, or annual. There is a Salvia for everyone’s preference and growing area.

The flower is a small tubular two-lipped blossom arranged in whorls around square shaped stems. The stamen forms a lever so when a pollinator enters the flower, the lever moves the stamen to deposit the pollen on the pollinator. When the pollinator enters another flower of the same species, the pollinator’s body brushes the stigmas and pollination is successful.

Salvia flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. If you want to attract the pollinators, enhance their habitat by providing many hours of sun and plenty of water and shelter. Minimize the use of pesticides.

The Salvia flower blooms on new wood from early summer to, and through, fall. Deadhead throughout the flowering season to promote re-blooming. To promote flowering, irrigate infrequently and deeply in summer. In milder climates, prune down to the ground in the fall and in areas with freezing nights, prune later, in the spring.

Colors of the Salvia flower can be purple, lavender, blue, red, pink, white, yellow, and even bicolor. White sage, Salvia apiana, is a California native and grows large and compact. The Cleveland sage, Salvia clevelandii, is light purple. Black sage, Salvia mellifera, has a pungent aroma and it flowers pale lavender on an upright stalk. Sonoma sage, Salvia sonomensis, is a creeping groundcover with blue-purple flowers. Purple Flowering sage, Salvia leucophylla, is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that can become a mounding form up to five tall. Fruit Scented sage, Salvia dorisiana, flowers a rich pink with peach-scented flowers.

Salvia leaves grow in pairs opposite of each other or singly on shrubs. Leaf color can range from gray to deep green. Common sage, Salvia officinalis, is the sage most associated with cooking. The leaves are quite fragrant. Pineapple sage, Salvia elegans, boasts dramatic red flowers and pineapple scented leaves. Salvia elegans ‘Tangerine’ has a citrusy smell and is an early bloomer. Fruit Scented Sage, Salvia dorisiana has a strong aroma of mixed fruits. Grape Scented Sage, Salvia melissodoro, is beloved by hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Mexican sage, Salvia leucantha , has a hint of pine fragrance. Honey Melon sage, Salvia officinalis ‘Honey Melon,’ is smaller and a later summer bloomer. The fragrance, while enchanting to humans, repels pests. Additionally, Salvia is deer resistant.

Salvia is relatively disease-free. Plant it in full sun in well-draining soil so that it has sufficient air circulation. Do not over-water or water overhead. It is drought tolerant once established and heat tolerant in our Mediterranean climate.

There is a Salvia for every gardener’s desire.