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There is no authoritative worldwide ranking of the “33 most popular” salvias. The selection below is a curated guide to 33 widely grown or especially useful species and named cultivars, organized by what they do in a garden. Salvia is a large genus—North Carolina State Extension describes more than 1,000 species plus many hybrids and cultivars—so annuals, biennials, perennials, shrubs and tender plants all appear on this list.
Use the exact botanical name on a seed packet or plant label. “Salvia” alone does not tell you whether a plant is culinary, hardy in your climate, suitable for a pot or likely to survive winter.
How to choose among salvias
The Royal Horticultural Society says, “Most thrive in a sunny position with well-drained soil.” That is a useful starting point, not a universal rule. Winter survival, watering, mature size and bloom timing vary considerably by species, cultivar and climate.
- For cooking: choose Salvia officinalis (common sage) and confirm the label. Ornamental selections are not necessarily good culinary herbs.
- For seasonal bedding: look at S. coccinea, S. splendens, S. farinacea, S. viridis and trialed annual cultivars.
- For a perennial border: consider S. nemorosa, S. pratensis, S. × sylvestris, S. verticillata or S. greggii, subject to local winter temperatures.
- For shrubs and dry gardens: investigate S. microphylla, S. clevelandii, S. mellifera and related regional species with a local plant profile.
- For fragrance or foliage: pineapple sage, silver sage, culinary sage and clary sage offer qualities beyond flower color.
- For pollinator planting: many salvias provide nectar for bees, butterflies or hummingbirds, but the visitors and flowering performance depend on region and season.
RHS advises planting after frost in spring or early summer and notes that salvias can be propagated from seed or softwood cuttings. Young plants are often the simpler route for tender or slow-starting types.
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33 salvia species and cultivars
The first 22 entries are species or named selections represented in extension or RHS material. Entries 23–31 are established salvia species that need a local profile for precise hardiness, size and irrigation advice. Entries 32 and 33 are cultivars, not separate species.
| # | Botanical name | Common name or use | What makes it useful | Habit and siting notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salvia officinalis | Common or culinary sage | Grey-green aromatic foliage and edible leaves for cooking. | Full sun and medium-to-dry, well-drained soil. Avoid wet ground. Harvest lightly in the first year and do not cut into old woody stems, which seldom resprout, according to NC State Extension. |
| 2 | Salvia fruticosa | Greek sage | A separate culinary sage often encountered in commerce. | Do not assume supermarket “fresh sage” is common sage; NC State notes it may be Greek sage. Check the species label and local winter guidance. |
| 3 | Salvia argentea | Silver sage | Large, silvery foliage is the main ornamental feature. | Often treated as a biennial. Give strong light and drainage; its value is chiefly foliage rather than a long-lived perennial framework. |
| 4 | Salvia coccinea | Texas, tropical or scarlet sage | Red, pink and peach forms provide warm-season color. | Annual in many gardens. Iowa State recommends planting after frost, pinching young plants for branching and deadheading to prolong display and limit reseeding. |
| 5 | Salvia elegans | Pineapple sage | Foliage has a pineapple-like fragrance; Iowa State lists later red flowers. | Often grown as a tender seasonal plant outside mild climates. Containers make it easier to move or replace. |
| 6 | Salvia farinacea | Mealycup sage | Blue, purple or white flower forms suit beds and containers. | Commonly grown as an annual where winters are cold. Full sun and drainage support the strongest flowering. |
| 7 | Salvia greggii | Autumn sage | A shrubby salvia with many flower colors and named cultivars. | Winter behavior varies by climate and selection. Treat it as a regional perennial or seasonal shrub only after checking a local recommendation. |
| 8 | Salvia guaranitica | Blue anise or anise-scented sage | Blue-toned flowers and an anise-like scent make it a strong ornamental and pollinator candidate. | Often grown as a tender perennial or annual, depending on winter temperatures. Iowa State’s table uses the spelling “gauranitica”; guaranitica is the accepted spelling used here. |
| 9 | Salvia splendens | Scarlet sage | A classic bedding salvia available in many colors. | Usually treated as an annual in temperate gardens. Plant out after frost danger and provide regular water, especially in containers. |
| 10 | Salvia viridis | Painted or clary sage | Colorful showy bracts create the display; it is useful in beds and arrangements. | Commonly grown as a cool-season or warm-season annual according to climate. Allow room for reseeding only where that is welcome. |
| 11 | Salvia azurea | Azure blue sage | Clear blue flowers offer a different palette from red bedding salvias. | UF/IFAS includes it among herbaceous perennial examples for Florida; hardiness and winter form must be reassessed outside that region. |
| 12 | Salvia lyrata | Lyre-leaf sage | Distinctive foliage and flower spikes can serve naturalistic or pollinator-oriented plantings. | UF/IFAS lists it as a Florida example. Confirm soil moisture and winter behavior for your location. |
| 13 | Salvia misella | Creeping or southern river sage | A low, spreading option for suitable regional groundcover-style plantings. | UF/IFAS presents it in a Florida context; do not transfer that performance to colder or drier regions without local evidence. |
| 14 | Salvia leucantha | Mexican sage | Velvety flower spikes make it a late-season ornamental in warm climates. | Often grown as a tender perennial or annual where freezes occur. Give sun and drainage and verify winter protection needs locally. |
| 15 | Salvia mexicana | Mexican sage | A vigorous ornamental species with showy selections. | NC State lists ‘Limelight’ as a tender perennial selection. Treat the species and cultivar as climate-dependent rather than universally hardy. |
| 16 | Salvia microphylla | Small-leaf or mountain sage | A shrubby species with many cultivars and hybrids. | RHS groups it with shrubby salvias. Flower color, size and cold tolerance differ among selections, so buy by cultivar name. |
| 17 | Salvia nemorosa | Woodland sage | Reliable flower-spike form for borders; ‘Caradonna’ is a named cultivar. | Count ‘Caradonna’ as a cultivar of this species, not another species. Sun and drainage are important for a tidy perennial clump. |
| 18 | Salvia pratensis | Meadow sage | RHS highlights the cultivar ‘Indigo’ for its deep-colored flower display. | Use the cultivar name when comparing plants; local perennial performance depends on winter and soil conditions. |
| 19 | Salvia × sylvestris | Hybrid sage | Garden hybrids such as ‘Mainacht’ are valued for border performance. | The multiplication sign indicates hybrid origin. ‘Mainacht’ is a cultivar within this hybrid group, not a separate species. |
| 20 | Salvia verticillata | Whorled clary | Whorled flower clusters add a distinctive texture; RHS names ‘Purple Rain’ as a cultivar. | Provide sun and drainage and check mature spread for the selected form. |
| 21 | Salvia sclarea | Clary sage | Large foliage and showy bracts give it a bold architectural presence. | RHS lists ‘Vatican Pink’ under S. sclarea var. turkestanica. It may self-seed, so place it where that behavior is acceptable. |
| 22 | Salvia glutinosa | Sticky sage | A less-common species for gardeners seeking something different from bedding types. | RHS notes that species plants may self-seed. Confirm soil and moisture preferences with a regional source. |
| 23 | Salvia apiana | White sage | Silvery foliage and cultural significance make it a notable regional plant. | Use a reputable local nursery or conservation source for cultivation and sourcing advice. Do not infer harvesting or ceremonial guidance from the common name. |
| 24 | Salvia spathacea | Hummingbird sage | A regional ornamental salvia recognized for its common association with hummingbirds. | Exact light, water and winter requirements should come from a profile for your climate. |
| 25 | Salvia mellifera | Black sage | A native shrub option for appropriate dry-climate landscapes. | Verify drainage, summer-water limits and mature size locally before planting. |
| 26 | Salvia clevelandii | Cleveland sage | A fragrant shrub for suitable regional gardens. | Choose only after checking local hardiness, spacing and irrigation recommendations. |
| 27 | Salvia dorrii | Desert sage | A dry-land species for gardeners working with arid-region conditions. | Do not apply generic “regular water” advice; use a local desert-plant guide for establishment and drainage. |
| 28 | Salvia pachyphylla | Mojave sage | A regional shrub choice where its climate and soil requirements can be met. | Confirm provenance, winter temperatures and irrigation before purchase. |
| 29 | Salvia sonomensis | Sonoma sage | A low-growing regional species suited to appropriate native-plant designs. | Local guidance is essential for exposure, drainage and summer water. |
| 30 | Salvia chamaedryoides | Germander sage | Blue flowers and a compact ornamental habit are its main attractions. | Check whether it is perennial or seasonal in your winter climate and provide a sharply drained site. |
| 31 | Salvia patens | Gentian sage | Large, gentian-like flowers make it a distinctive border or container plant. | Buy from a source that states the cultivar and overwintering method for your region. |
| 32 | Salvia ‘Amistad’ | Tender garden hybrid | A named hybrid selected for ornamental flower display. | Write and search it as a cultivar, not as a species. It commonly needs a protected or seasonal treatment where winters freeze. |
| 33 | Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ | Shrubby garden cultivar | A named selection of shrubby salvia, known for contrasting flower colors. | Its performance and winter survival depend on climate. Compare it with the exact local nursery description rather than with an unnamed “red salvia.” |
Sun, soil and watering: what applies broadly
Start with a sunny site and soil that drains freely, then adjust for the plant and region. RHS describes many salvias as drought-tolerant once established, while also noting that some need winter protection. That combination explains why one irrigation schedule cannot cover the genus.
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- Planting: set out spring or early summer plants after frost danger has passed. Minnesota Extension uses soil temperatures above 55°F for outdoor planting in its regional advice.
- Spacing: Minnesota Extension gives 1–3 feet depending on cultivar; use the plant label and expected mature spread rather than a single genus-wide spacing rule.
- Containers: annual salvias can perform well in pots, but Iowa State emphasizes regular water and fertilizer because containers dry and exhaust nutrients quickly.
- Air movement: UC Integrated Pest Management recommends full sun, good air circulation, good soil and drainage. It notes that pruning before bloom can delay flowering.
- Pruning and deadheading: pinch tall annual seedlings to encourage branching. Remove spent flowers when you want more blooms or less reseeding. For woody culinary sage, avoid cutting into old stems.
Are salvias annuals or perennials?
Both—and some are biennial or tender perennial. A plant sold as a perennial in a mild region may be an annual in a cold garden, while a tender species can survive winter in a sheltered pot or greenhouse. Read the hardiness information for the exact species or cultivar and your location. Florida examples from UF/IFAS and Minnesota annual recommendations are regional observations, not national rules.
Pollinators and common problems
Salvia flowers are widely used in pollinator plantings. Extension guidance mentions bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, but no species guarantees a particular visitor in every garden. Plant several flowering types and provide pesticide-free forage where possible.
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NC State lists whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, rust, powdery mildew, stem rot and fungal leaf spot as possible problems. UC IPM also provides guidance for aphids, thrips, leaf spots, mildews and rusts. Good spacing, sun, drainage and air circulation reduce favorable conditions; identify the pest or disease before treating.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Seeds or young plants?
Seeds are economical for many annual salvias and let you grow a larger number of plants. Young plants are usually more practical for named cultivars, tender hybrids and gardeners with a short season. In either case, purchase by full species or cultivar name and check the plant’s expected winter behavior before planting.
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A simple buying checklist
- Write down your winter low temperatures and whether the site is in-ground or container-grown.
- Choose the garden role: culinary herb, bedding, border, shrub, foliage or pollinator planting.
- Match the label’s sun, drainage and spacing requirements to the site.
- Confirm whether the name is a species, hybrid or cultivar; ‘Caradonna’, ‘Mainacht’, ‘Purple Rain’, ‘Vatican Pink’, ‘Amistad’ and ‘Hot Lips’ are named selections, not separate species.
- Buy seed or a starter plant from a seller that identifies the exact taxon and provides regional growing information.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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