Growing Salvia

 

Growing Salvia transcript

I'm here at White Flower Farm in a beautiful bed of Salvia.  Salvia is a very large genus of many showy annuals and a few hardy perennials.

Native to temperate and tropical climates all over the world, Salvias attract bees and hummingbirds, and some have culinary or medicinal purposes. Salvias are commonly known as Sage: you are probably familiar with the most popular of the bunch, culinary sage.

Others have common names such as Wood Sage, Autumn Sage, Meadow Sage, Lilac Sage or Clary. These Salvias are long blooming and come in a wide range of colors from blue, purple, pink, and red to white and even yellow.

Whether an annual or perennial variety, Salvia likes full sun and well-drained soil. Ground cover Sage will stay a diminutive 6” tall, whereas some of the more showy varieties will get up to 3’. Most Salvias have fuzzy or hairy leaves, which dissuades deer and rabbits from eating them. All are fragrant, some with a pleasant, fruity aroma, while others smell like sweat socks after football practice.

When thinking of companions to plant in your garden, remember Salvia has a vertical form, so choose plants that are more round to complement it, such as Roses, Allium, Yarrow, or Coreopsis. All these companions like the same conditions of full sun and well-drained soil that Salvia enjoy.

If your Salvia begins to look tired or overgrown by midsummer, cut back about one third of your plant to encourage more growth. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to promote additional flowering. Salvias make a striking vertical accent in your garden.

For growing instructions for annual Salvia and perennial Salvia, we offer at White Flower Farm, visit our website.