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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Clethra alnifolia Clethra alnifolia
Gelsemium sempervirens Close up of funnel shaped flower
Lonicera sempervirens Lonicera sempervirens
Salvia has some common insect problems:
Whiteflies Found on Flowers and Foliage
Aphids Found on Flowers and Foliage
Mealybugs
Twospotted Spider Mites on Landscape Plants
Salvia has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Salvia

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
SAL-vee-uh
Description

Sage is a genus in the Lamiaceae (mint) family and is found all over the world. There are many species and cultivars and lots of variation in their leaf shape and texture, but it is easy to tell they are in the mint family because of their square stems. Most members of this genus are small upright shrubs reaching 1 to 3 feet tall and wide. The name Salvia is derived from the Latin term salveo, which means ‘be well’ and refers to the plant's medicinal properties.

Sages need to be planted in full sun to partial shade and in well-drained, highly organic soil. They are drought and salt tolerant and resistant to deer. Propagate by division, seed, or stem cutting. 

The flowers provide excellent late season color, so sages are a good companion plant in a native, butterfly, pollinator, or drought-tolerant garden. Edible species are also excellent in an herb garden.

Insect, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Whitefly, aphids, mealy bug, and spider mites are insect problems. Rust, powdery mildew, stem rot, and fungal leaf spot are disease problems.

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscapes:
Deck Garden Pollinator Garden in Partial Shade Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Parking Lot Berms Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Souto Sun Garden Backyard Respite Landscape
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Amistad', ‘Indigo Spires’, ‘Limelight’, Midnight Model, Saliva lyrata, Salvia argentea, Salvia azurea, Salvia coccinea, Salvia elegans, Salvia farinacea, Salvia greggii, Salvia guaranitica, Salvia leucantha, Salvia microphylla, Salvia nemorosa, Salvia officinalis, Salvia rosmarinus, Salvia sagittata, Salvia sclarea, Salvia splendens, Salvia uliginosa, Salvia 'Wendy's Wish', Salvia x digenea, Salvia x sylvestris, Salvia yangii, 'Swifty Violet Blue'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#easy to grow#low maintenance#apvg#bumblebee friendly#NC native#herbaceous perennial#rock garden#NC Native Pollinator Plant#sensory garden#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#apvg-a#showy#butterfly garden#th-smell#cpp#hs111#hs303
 
Salvia officinalis
Salvia officinalis Lindley Ashline CC BY-NC 2.0
Salvia sclarea leaf
Salvia sclarea lea carlbagge CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Hummingbird on Salvia coccinea
Salia coccinea Bud Ohio CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Salvia Baptisia
Salvia Batisia Lucy Bradley CC0
Salvia leucantha
Salvia leucantha Randy Robertson CC BY 2.0
Salvia azurea
Salvia azurea KENPEI CC BY-SA 3.0
flower, NC
flower, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
habit, Wake County, NC
habit, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
flower closeup, Wake County, NC
flower closeup, Wake County, NC Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
'Wendy's Wish' buds, Cabarrus County, NC
'Wendy's Wish' buds, Cabarrus County, NC Hope Duckworth CC BY 4.0
Salvia
'Midnight Model' Flowers (Juniper Level Botanical Garden,NC)-Late Spring Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
Salvia
'Midnight Model' Flowers (Juniper Level Botanical Garden,NC)-Late Spring Cathy Dewitt CC BY 4.0
'Swifty Violet Blue' Form - Early Summer - Wake Co., NC
'Swifty Violet Blue' Form - Early Summer - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
'Swifty Violet Blue' Flower bud & Leaves- Early Summer - Wake Co
'Swifty Violet Blue' Flower bud & Leaves- Early Summer - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Bat Wing varietal with Swallow Tail Chatham County Lucill
"Bat Wing" varietal with Swallow Tail Chatham County Lucille Zane CC BY-ND 4.0
Pink Profusion Nutan's Nodding - Flower - Wake Co., NC
Pink Profusion Nutan's Nodding - Flower - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
Pink Profusion Nutan's Nodding - Form - Wake Co., NC
Pink Profusion Nutan's Nodding - Form - Wake Co., NC Cathy DeWitt CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Amistad', ‘Indigo Spires’, ‘Limelight’, Midnight Model, Saliva lyrata, Salvia argentea, Salvia azurea, Salvia coccinea, Salvia elegans, Salvia farinacea, Salvia greggii, Salvia guaranitica, Salvia leucantha, Salvia microphylla, Salvia nemorosa, Salvia officinalis, Salvia rosmarinus, Salvia sagittata, Salvia sclarea, Salvia splendens, Salvia uliginosa, Salvia 'Wendy's Wish', Salvia x digenea, Salvia x sylvestris, Salvia yangii, 'Swifty Violet Blue'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#showy flowers#easy to grow#low maintenance#apvg#bumblebee friendly#NC native#herbaceous perennial#rock garden#NC Native Pollinator Plant#sensory garden#bird friendly#butterfly friendly#apvg-a#showy#butterfly garden#th-smell#cpp#hs111#hs303
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Salvia
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Worldwide
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and is seldom damaged by deer.
    Edibility:
    Leaves can be used fresh or dried for seasonings and teas, and the flowers are edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Native Plant
    Wildflower
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Schizocarp
    Fruit Description:
    Contains 4 nutlets
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are tube-shaped and two-lipped (smaller upper and larger lower lip) and about one inch long, appearing in terminal spikes. Terminal inflorescence with tulipped calix and corolla with zygomorphic symmetry, bilabiate.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Description:
    Some leaves are hairless and scaborus, others are pubescent and soft.  Typically leaves have a toothed margin and are reticulate (easy to see the veins on the underside of the leaf).
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Description:
    Square erect stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Edible Garden
    Native Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Salt