🐝 A Garden Favourite for Pollinators
Fill your garden with clouds of colour and velvety-soft foliage that will last all summer long! Salvias are easy to grow in both containers and flower borders, making them a versatile addition to any garden. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators absolutely love them, especially varieties with shorter flower tubes that make nectar easy to access.
☀️ Sun-Loving & Easy to Grow
Part of the Mint family, Salvias are closely related to culinary Sage and originate from Mexico. They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, rewarding gardeners with months of spectacular blooms and fragrant foliage.
Indigenous Water-Wise Beauties
South Africa is home to some stunning indigenous Salvias that are both beautiful and drought-tolerant:
Salvia africana-lutea (Golden Salvia) – Soft grey foliage with cheerful yellow flowers.
Salvia muirii (Blue Eyes) – Produces masses of delicate blue and white blooms.
Salvia africana-caerulea (Blue Flowered Sage) – Aromatic foliage paired with beautiful blue flowers.
The Show-Stopping Mexican Bush Sage
One of the most popular varieties is Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage), which produces elegant spikes of mauve and white flowers throughout summer.
Popular cultivars include:
‘Midnight’ – Rich purple blooms
White flowering forms
Soft pink varieties
Fragrant & Water-Wise Choices
Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland Sage) is a hardy, semi-evergreen shrub with strongly scented grey-green foliage and beautiful blue flowers. It’s an excellent choice for water-wise gardens and attracts plenty of pollinators.
The Ever-Changing ‘Hot Lips’
The charming Salvia greggii ‘Hot Lips’ (Autumn Sage) is famous for its striking red-and-white flowers. In very hot weather the blooms may turn completely red or white, returning to their distinctive two-tone appearance when temperatures cool.
Other beautiful cultivars include:
- ‘Sweet Lips’ – Pink flowers
‘Neon Pink’ – Deep pink blooms
‘Red Surprise’ – Vibrant cerise flowers
Canary Island Sage – Big, Bold & Beautiful
Salvia canariensis (Canary Island Sage) offers attractive grey-green foliage and masses of bright rose-red flowers on long arching stems. Growing up to 2 metres tall, this spectacular shrub responds well to pruning. Cut it back by two-thirds after flowering to encourage another flush of blooms in autumn.
A Salvia for Every Garden
From soft pastels to vibrant blues, dramatic purples, fiery reds, dreamy pinks, creamy yellows, and pure whites, there is a Salvia to suit every garden style. Their long flowering season, aromatic foliage, drought tolerance, and pollinator-friendly blooms make them true garden superstars.
Easy-going, colourful, fragrant and water-wise – Salvias are a must-have for every garden!
