2009 list
Updated 31 March 2009
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. CN at the end of the entry denotes plants native to California.
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 africana-caerulea - South Africa. A small rounded shrub to 18" by about 2', light blue flowers are produced in spring and summer in my garden. Modest green leaves. Z9 ? 20 seeds Sold out 2009
Salvia argentea - Mediterranean. Wide silvery hairy leaves create a striking rosette. Fl. stems rise to 2' and carry creamy white fls. in spring, but the leaves are the fetching attraction of this species. Z5 50 seeds
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 bracteata - Middle East. Divided hairy leaves are light green on this subshrub; fl. stems to 12" carry large, muted medium pink fls. in spring and summer. Not particularly showy, but very interesting. Z9 or less. 20 seeds Sold out 2009
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 canariensis - Canary Islands. The varieties listed below are not really an improvement on the species, which makes a shrub to 5', with dark grey green leaves with white undersides and abundant rose flowers in red violet calyces. 30 seeds
Salvia canariensis var. albiflora - Canary Islands. Leaves are greener and narrower than in the typical species. White flowers appear in the usual long wands. Z9 30 seeds
Salvia canescens var. daghestanica - Caucasus. Small rosettes of felted white leaves; flower spikes rise to 12" and carry deep blue purple flowers. Great rock garden plant. 20 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 CN
Salvia columbariae - California, southwest U.S. Chia is a great annual for open ground. Round heads of bright blue flowers on very straight stems. Plants can bloom at 4" or 2', depending on cultural conditions. 50 seeds CN
Salvia cyanescens - C. Anatolia. Low, white pubescent rosettes; many airy spikes of blue violet flowers to 12-18" for a long season in summer. Z7 30 seeds
Salvia darcyi - Mexico. Long, erect spikes of large bright red flowers appear all summer and fall on this hardy perennial Mexican sage. Spreads a bit at the root, and is deciduous in winter. Very showy. Z8 30 seeds Sold out 2009
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 50 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 greggii - white fls. Texas, Mexico. The usual low shrubs carry bright, clean white flowers for a long season. Leaves, of course, are sweetly aromatic. Z7 30 seeds
Salvia judaica - Seeds sold last year as this species were not!! They cannot be replaced as the stock plant is lost. Apologies for this harvest confusion--credit for packets will be given if you mention it on your order.
Salvia lanceolata - South Africa. Very dense shrub to 3' with triangular gray leaves, and shortly spreading by underground stems. Large dusty pink flowers appear in spring and summer, and the calyces expand in fruit. 20 seeds Sold out 2009
Salvia lanigera - E. Mediterranean. This tidy plant often proceeds to seed production without showing flowers, but when they appear, the spidery flowers are a pretty lavender blue. It is such a tidy, light creamy green mound that the omission of flowers doesn't matter much. Grows 8" high by about 18" wide. 30 seeds
Salvia lycioides - Texas. The true species is a small shrub with light green leaves and true blue flowers scattered in spring and fall. Smaller in scale than S. greggii. Z8 20 seeds Sold out 2009
Salvia macrophylla - low form, Tingo, Peru. Wide heart shaped leaves grow like a squash along the ground. Some stems rise to 2-3' and carry a long series of lime green calyces from which bright blue buds develop into gentian blue flowers with a severely swept back lower lip. Styles and stamens are lightly blue flushed too. Tender to frost. Easy and fast. 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 CN
Salvia microphylla - pink - Mexico. Mid-green leaves and bright, large pink flowers make this plant very useful in the garden. This species is more leafy and dense in habit, and larger in flower than S. x jamensis. Z9 30 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 quite nice in mixed plantings. 50 seeds
Salvia patens 'Guanajuato' - Mexico. Oversized gentian blue flowers are a third again as big as they typical species. Fl. stems rise to 5' and blooming goes on most of the summer. 40 seeds Sold out 2009
Small amounts of the cultivar 'White Trophy', ' also available. 15 seeds per packet while supply lasts.
Salvia praeclara - 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 above the foliage. Probably not hardy. 30 seeds
Salvia pratensis 'Haemotodes' - Europe. Green basal rosette; spring brings a great display of lavender blue flowers on dense spikes. 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 are carried in summer and fall. Long bloom. 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 roborowski - China. Soft yellow flowers occur in terminal spikes all over this 1-2' annual sage. Very nice when it self seeds a little. 50 seeds
Salvia roemeriana - Texas. Bright true red flowers appear for a long season on this low and spreading perennial sage from Texas. Grows in sun or part shade. Z8 30 seeds Sold out 2009
Salvia sagittata - Ecuador. Thick light green leaves are deltoid and fairly large; well displayed spikes of very distinctive, true gentian blue flowers appear in summer and fall. Handsome in leaf and flower. Needs protection from frost. 30 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 sclarea -low form - Turkey. Fl. stems to 2' on this small scale clary sage. Flowers and bracts are the usual pretty pink and white. Z5 30 seeds
Salvia sclarea var. turkestanica - Europe, C. Asia. Low rosettes are pale green. Sculptural, almost ghostly, flower stalks have prominent white (tinged pink) bracts, and white flowers. Stunning. Also known as S. sclarea 'Alba'. Z5 50 seeds
Salvia serpyllifolia - Mexico. Seeds sold as this species last year produced a wide range of obviously hybrid progeny. Apologies for this genetic muddling--credit for packets will be given if you mention it on your order.
Salvia somalensis - Somalia. 3-6' evergreen shrub has oval light green leaves that are attractive all year. Spikes of lavender blue fls. scattered along the branches and at their tips in summer. Z9 30 seeds Sold out 2009
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 CN
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. Easy in a watered shady spot. Tender to frost. 20 seeds
Salvia subrotunda - Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina. Small vivid orange fls. are in perfect contrast to green stems and leaves on this 4' bushy annual. 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
Salvia viscosa - E. Europe. Smallish flowers are red-violet, and appear in such profusion that they create a colorful cloud over the basal leaves of this hardy species. Rosettes have softly scalloped dark green leaves. Z6 30 seeds