2012 list
Updated 13 December 2011
All packets are $3.50. Zones included at the end of the description correspond to climatic zones used by the USDA and the RHS Index of Garden Plants. Ordering information can be found at the How to Order link on the home page.
Salvias are
exciting plants. The New Book of Salvias, Sages for every Garden, by
Betsy Clebsch (2003, Timber Press) is a good resource
for gardeners interested in a diversity of sages.
Salvia apiana – California. White sage. Subshrub makes 2-3’ mounds of broad white, highly aromatic leaves. Flower stems to 6’+ carry white to pinkish white flowers in spring. 50 seeds Sold out 2012
Salvia barrelieri - SW.Spain, N.Africa. Strong basal rosettes are somewhat blue green; very ornamental flower stalks to 5' rise in late spring and carry many large lavender blue flowers for a long period. A striking species. Z8 ? 30 seeds
Salvia broussonetii - Canary Islands. Large light green leaves densely held on a rounded perennial shrub are very attractive set among other garden plants on this white flowered sage. To 30". Z9 30 seeds
Salvia carduacea - California. Pale lavender blue flowers with an incredibly frilly lower lip are borne in spiny, cobwebby heads. Annual, good in containers. Z8 30 seeds
Salvia coccinea ‘Brenthurst’ – Tropical S. America. Generally used as an annual bedding sage, this plant can be perennial in mild areas. Warm pink flowers are set off nicely by dark stems during a very long blooming season. 30 seeds
Salvia columbariae - California, southwest U.S. Chia is a great annual for open ground. Prickly round heads of bright blue purple flowers on very straight stems. Plants can bloom at 4" or 2', depending on cultural conditions. 50 seeds
Salvia desoleana - Sardinia. Wide light green leaves have undulating edges and make a tight clump to 2’. Pale cream and light blue flowers are carried on 18” stems in spring and summer. Wonderfully pungent leaf aroma. 20 seeds
Salvia disermas - pink fl. South Africa. Light gray green leaves form a large mounding perennial clump; many small pale pink flowers (in this form) almost year-round. Z9, at least 30 seeds
Salvia disermas - white fl. - South Africa. Light green leaves on this form look good all year and form a pleasant mound to 2'; many white flowers in spring and summer. Z9, at least 50 seeds
Salvia forskaohlei - S.E. Europe, W. Asia. Large rough leaves make low rosettes; flowers are on 30" stalks. Blue purple flowers with white throats are set in subtly ruby calyces in this seed strain. Perennial, seeds a bit. Z7 30 seedsSalvia macrophylla—purple undersides – Peru. Shrub to 6’+ with large dark green leaves with purple undersides. Spikes of dark blue flowers are abundant spring to fall. Vigorous and impressive, but tender to hard frost. 30 seeds
Salvia mellifera - California. Dark green leaved shrubs of black sage perfume the chaparral hillsides of coastal California. Dense whorls of white flowers in spring. Z8 50 seeds
Salvia namaensis – southern Africa. Twiggy light shrub to 5’ has a distinctive “medicinal” aroma and small pale blue flowers. Botanists call the light green leaves “lyrate pinnatifid” and they are quite attractive. No hard frost. 30 seeds
Salvia nilotica - Africa. Dense heads of small light blue purple flowers are carried over attractive, dark green foliage. More for the collector than for show, but rather nice in mixed plantings. 30 seeds
Salvia praeclara ( S. exserta)- Bolivia. This species can best be described as a S. coccinea on steroids, leaves are thin and light green, flower stems reach to 18" and carry vivid orange red fls all summer. To 5’. 30 seeds
Salvia pratensis 'Haemotodes' - Europe. Green basal rosette; the great display of clouds of lavender blue flowers on dense spikes continues spring through the summer. Hardy and quite lovely. Z3 50 seeds
Salvia radula – southern Africa. Robust perennial has green leaves felted white beneath. Prominent spikes of clear white flowers to 3' are carried in summer and fall. Long bloom. 30 seedsSalvia raymondii ssp. mairanae – Bolivia. Leafy shrub to 4-5’ has oval-pointed dark green leaves and carries spikes of red violet flowers in spring. Z9-10 30 seeds
Salvia repens - South Africa. Low green lvs. are sometimes lobed; flower stalks to 16" carry light blue and white flowers set in a red violet calyx. Blooms for months, and the plants spread at the root with enthusiasm in light soils. Z8-9? 50 seeds
Salvia scabra - South Africa. Blooming from early summer to fall, this sage displays its pretty clear lavender, long tubed flowers very effectively. Dark green foliage is low. Z9 30 seeds
Salvia spathacea - California. A matting perennial with the sweetest smelling rough green leaves, pitcher sage produces thick spikes of dark pink flowers in spring and early summer. To 2'. Z8 30 seeds
Salvia splendens – pink fl. – Brazil. Majestic shrubs to 5’+ bloom all summer into fall with spikes of light peachy pink flowers set in peach calyces among lush green leaves. Backlit flowers are translucent and honeybees have been observed entering the flowers and sipping nectar, with extended tongues! Easy in a watered shady spot. Tender to frost. 30 seeds
Salvia stenophylla – South Africa. Perennial keeps low, green rosettes; fl. stems extend 1’ and carry many small light blue flowers in spring. Easy. Z9 50 seeds
Salvia subrotunda – Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina. Small vivid orange flowers are in perfect contrast to green stems and leaves on this 4’ bushy tender perennial. Blooms from spring to frost, and is especially attractive to hummingbirds. 30 seeds
Salvia taraxacifolia - Morocco. Gray, sweet-smelling rosettes look like dandelions when they are young; spikes of palest pink flowers appear late spring to fall. Very nice combined with red-violet flowers. Perennial, to 18". Z9 30 seeds
Salvia tingitana – perhaps Morocco, but uncertain. Large pungently aromatic leaves are luminous pale green; spring flowers are soft yellow and light lilac. Forms an erect shrub to 2'. Z9 at least 30 seeds