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Perennial Care

Growing Salvia and Which Varieties to Try

Growing Salvia and Which Varieties to Try - Nature Hills Nursery

Charlotte Weidner |

Wonderfully cold-hardy perennials, Salvia are pollinator-friendly, brightly colored, vertical-growing flowering plants! Blooming from summer until frost in many cases, Salvia are easy to grow and vibrant herbaceous plants with loads of appeal!

Members of the Mint Family, Salvia is aromatic from top to bottom with an herbal fragrance and lots of vital nectar for butterflies, bees, and even Hummingbirds! Also known as Common Sage and Meadow Sage, these drought and deer-tolerant perennials are natives to Mexico and South America!

Of the 500 species available and 30 current varieties at Nature Hills, how do you choose just one?

Gorgeous Perennial Salvia

Hardy Salvia perennials come in about every flower color out there! Similar to Russian Sage, Lavender, Catmint, Catnip, and Veronica, these spires of vivid color form tidy clumps of mounded, aromatic foliage.

Growing Salvia is one of the most rewarding tasks that any gardener can accomplish! Fantastic in the Perennial and Cottage border, in the Rock Gardens, and in Pollinator Gardens. Spreading politely when happy in their planting site, you’ll enjoy having these form a living mulch and waves of vivid groundcover.

Wonderful not only for feeding and attracting a wide variety of pollinators, but the blooms are dramatic, vertical interest in the garden, and the floral bouquet! So be sure to plant one or more in your Cut Flower Garden!

Wonderful as edging and facer plants, add a textured fringe between your lawn and garden with these vivid, reliable repeat bloomers!

Darkest Purple Salvia

Deep and dark purple blooms on darker, sometimes near-black stems, and standing atop a mound of dark green foliage, these are the gorgeous far end of the purple spectrum specimens!

  • May Night Salvia (perennial zones 4-9)
  • East Friesland Salvia (perennial zones 4-9)
  • Blue Marvel Salvia (perennial zones 4-9)
  • Salvia Mystic Spires (annual, perennial in zones 7-9)
  • Blue By You Salvia (perennial in zones 4-9)
darkest purple

Light Lavender-Blue Purple

Soft and subtle, these Perennial Salvia look more like their close cousins, Lavender herbs. Edging into the blue shades for ethereal waves of upright wands, these Salvia will have you singing the blues.

  • Evolution Salvia (annual, or perennial in zones 8-10)
  • Azure Snow Salvia (zones 3-8)
  • Salvia Blue Hill (zones 4-8)
  • Black and Blue Salvia (annual, or perennial in zones 7-10)
light lavender blue

White Flowering Salvia

Fantastic white blooms have all the qualities of their more colorful family members, but with lovely silver and white hues to soothe you and your landscape!

  • Salvia Snow Hill (perennial in zones 4-9)
  • Salute™ White Salvia (perennial in zones 5-9)

Pink Flowering Salvia

Eye-popping pink, both light and dark, will enchant you and every butterfly in the area!

  • Pink Autumn Sage (Annual, perennial in zones 7-9)
  • Rose Marvel Salvia (perennial in zones 4-9)
  • Color Spires® Back to the Fuchsia Salvia (perennial in zones 3-8)
  • Pink Profusion Perennial Salvia (perennial in zones 3-8)
  • FASHIONISTA™ Pretty In Pink Salvia (perennial in zones 3-8)
  • Salvia Bumbleberry (perennial in zones 3-8)

Red Hot Salvia

Now for something unexpected, red-flowering Salvia will light up your container gardens and draw hummingbirds galore!

  • Windwalker Royal Red Salvia (perennial in zones 5-9)
  • Furman's Red Salvia
  • Saucy™ Red Salvia
  • Radio Red Autumn Sage
red salvia

Hot Climate Perennial Salvia

Not all Salvia available are cold-hardy; some are extremely heat-tolerant and more tropical blooming plants! Northern growers can still enjoy these flowering plants as annual accents!

  • Hummingbird Sage
  • Amistad Salvia
  • Bodacious® Rhythm and Blues Salvia
  • Hot Lips Salvia
  • Mexican Bush Sage
  • Pink Autumn Sage

Best Salvia For Containers & Porch Planters

Thriving in the sun and ok if you miss the occasional watering! Try these lovely Perennial Salvia for your patio planters!

  • Marcus Salvia
  • Caradonna Meadow Sage
  • Salvia Bumbleberry
  • New Dimension™ Rose Salvia
container planting salvia

Salvia For Floral Design & Cut Flower Gardens

Dress up bouquets with tall spires of vivid color, full of tightly packed little two-lipped blooms!

  • Azure Snow Salvia
  • Hot Lips Salvia
  • Salvia Bumbleberry
  • FASHIONISTA™ Pretty In Pink Salvia
cut flower salvia

Edible Salvia!

Better known as Culinary Sage, this beloved Herb is common in the kitchen spice rack, but a knockout in the garden since it displays the same aromatic foliage and showy blooms as its ornamental cousins!

  • Sage Plant
  • Common Sage Plant
  • Intense Sage
  • Robert Grimm Dwarf Culinary Sage

Perennial Salvia Care

Hardy down to USDA growing zones 3 and up to 11, Perennial Salvia requires very little care, as long as the proper conditions are given. Loving moderate yet regular moisture while getting established, plant Salvia in a very well-drained location and apply a 3-4 inch thick layer of mulch over the soil surface for moisture retention and insulation.

Once established, many varieties of Salvia are actually quite xeric and drought-tolerant! But to keep those blooms pumping, give them a drink during extended drought and throughout the worst of the summer heat, especially in the hotter climates.

  • Salvia plants require full sun in order to grow and flower
  • Good drainage is needed to help prevent root rot
  • Salvia will thrive in a variety of soil and water conditions as long as it is well-drained
  • Moderate to low moisture needs once established
Salvia care

Prune early spring to clean the mound and encourage an even flush of new growth each spring. Deadhead after the first flush of blooms fade to encourage a second, and sometimes even a third, in warmer climates!

When Salvia's clumps get larger after about 3-5 years, it's recommended that you divide the larger plant into several small plants in order to rejuvenate them and increase their flowering and vigor.

Scintillating Salvia!

Diverse in color and size, Perennial Salvia are beloved by all. Open your garden up to the many curious pollinators and beneficial insects alike! Check out all the fantastic varieties available for your garden today at Nature Hills!

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is salvia a perennial or does it grow as an annual in most climates?
Salvia is a wonderfully cold-hardy perennial in most climates, typically thriving in zones 4-9 depending on the variety. In warmer regions such as zones 7-9, even tender varieties like Mystic Spires will overwinter reliably, while in colder zones some selections may be grown as annuals. With around 500 species available and 30 varieties at Nature Hills, there is a Salvia suited to nearly every garden. Check the specific zone rating for the variety you select to ensure you are choosing one that will return year after year in your area.

How do you care for salvia plants throughout the growing season?
Salvia are low-maintenance perennials that thrive in well-drained soil and full sun, requiring minimal watering once established thanks to their impressive drought tolerance. Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the season to encourage continuous flowering from summer until frost. In fall, cut plants back to just above the crown, and in colder zones (4-6) apply a light layer of mulch to protect roots over winter. For the best performance, divide clumps every few years in spring to keep plants vigorous and blooming at their peak.

How much sun does salvia need to thrive?
Salvia thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day for the best blooms and most compact growth. While some varieties can tolerate partial shade, reduced sun often leads to leggy plants and fewer flowers. Plant your Salvia in your sunniest garden bed or border to ensure those vivid spires of color perform at their peak from summer through frost.

When should you plant salvia outdoors?
Plant salvia outdoors in spring after the last frost date has passed and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Most hardy perennial salvia varieties thrive in zones 4 through 9 and establish best when given a full growing season before winter. In warmer zones, fall planting is also an option, giving roots time to settle before summer heat arrives. Choose a site with full sun and well-drained soil for the strongest bloom performance.

How do you care for perennial salvia so it comes back each year?
Perennial salvia thrives with minimal care when planted in well-drained soil and full sun, making it reliably cold-hardy in zones 4-9 for most varieties. Cut plants back by about one-third after the first flush of blooms to encourage reblooming through frost, and do a hard cutback to just a few inches in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges. Avoid overwatering and heavy fertilizing, as salvia prefers lean, dry conditions similar to its native Mexican and South American habitat. Plant in a spot with good drainage, divide clumps every few years to keep plants vigorous, and you'll enjoy waves of color season after season.

Does purple salvia come back every year or does it need to be replanted?
Purple salvia varieties like May Night, East Friesland, and Blue Marvel are reliably cold-hardy perennials in zones 4-9, meaning they will return year after year without replanting. They die back to the ground in winter but re-emerge from their root systems each spring. In zones outside that range, some varieties like Mystic Spires can be grown as annuals and replanted each season. Choose a variety rated for your hardiness zone to enjoy these low-maintenance bloomers for years to come.

How do you prune salvia to encourage more blooms?
Deadhead spent salvia flower spikes by cutting them back to just above a set of healthy leaves or a side shoot to encourage a second or even third flush of blooms throughout the season. In mid-summer, give the entire plant a harder cutback of about one-third to refresh the foliage and stimulate vigorous new growth. In fall, leave the stems in place until early spring to protect the crown, then cut back to about 4 to 6 inches from the ground before new growth emerges. Keep a clean pair of pruners on hand throughout the growing season and deadhead regularly to keep your salvia blooming strong from summer until frost.

How do you care for salvia plants during hot and dry summers?
Salvia are naturally drought-tolerant once established, making them well-suited to hot, dry summers with minimal intervention. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings, as these plants prefer lean conditions over soggy roots. Deadheading spent blooms throughout summer encourages continuous flowering right up until frost. For best performance, plant in full sun with well-drained soil and avoid heavy fertilization, which can reduce blooming and weaken the plant's natural resilience.

Which salvia varieties grow best in garden beds and borders?
Perennial Salvia varieties like May Night, East Friesland, and Blue Marvel (all hardy in zones 4-9) are excellent choices for perennial and cottage garden borders, where they form tidy, mounded clumps with dramatic vertical flower spires. These varieties bloom from summer until frost, spread politely to create a living mulch effect, and work beautifully as edging plants between lawns and garden beds. Plant them in groupings of three or more to create bold waves of color and maximize their pollinator appeal.

Can you grow salvia in containers outdoors?
Yes, salvia grows beautifully in outdoor containers and porch planters, making it a versatile choice for gardeners with limited ground space. Choose a well-draining potting mix and a container large enough to accommodate the plant's mounded growth habit, ensuring good airflow around the foliage. Since containers can dry out faster than garden beds, monitor soil moisture closely, though salvia's natural drought tolerance gives it an edge over many other flowering plants. Select a variety suited to your climate zone and place the container in a full-sun location for the best bloom performance from summer through frost.
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