This species of semi-woody Salvia has produced some of the best for our climate. Shocking pink, relatively large flowers decorate the upward stems of this vigorous and long blooming perennial. To 26″ tall and forming a semi-woody shrub. In essence it is a subshrub which is woody with time but capable of freezing to the ground and returning from the base. The vivid flowers appear from May to frost and are a delight for pollinators, hummingbirds and pink-o-philes. Full, hot sun in a warm position in rich, WELL DRAINED SOIL. Double dig the soil before planting to incorporate oxygen and make it easier for water to reach the roots. Do not prune back in spring until you see new growth. Either from the tips or the base depending on how cold the previous winter. Cut back hard then and it will zoom back to its former stature in no time. Hot sunny places, hell strips, containers. Excellent on hot slopes.
Biome: Rabbit Resistance
Salvia microphylla ‘Royal Bumble’
This is red, no pink, very little orange, true blasting red. Our employee Chris thought we needed it and after observation I heartily agree. Bushy semi-woody perennial to 30″ x 30″ for full sun and rich well drained soil. A slope is best. Blooms unabated from May to frost. It takes a break in temperatures above 97º but resumes blooming with a cool down. This is redder ( with no white) than Hot lips with very large flowers in deeply colored calyxes. We have been impressed with the cold and wet tolerance of Salvia microphylla. Of utmost importance is to refrain from cutting them back until all danger of frost has passed, then you can go for it and regrowth to bloom is rapid. Obviously a hummingbird attractant. They stake them out, they fight and its all good fun. Long blooming Light deer resistance. Drought adapted when established.
We all agree at Xera that this is a fantastic new color form of cold hardy little leaf sage (Salvia microphylla). The large flowers begin as dark blue in bud and open to a wonderful true light blue. Compact growing to 2′ x 2′ and it blooms continuously for all of summer into early autumn. The flower color is vastly different than ‘Flower Child’ pink and ‘Royal Bumble’ red. It is not only a wonderful border plant its compact habit and continuous flowering make it a wonderful container member as well . This is one of the most visited plants for hummingbirds. Enriched soil that drains in full sun. It will perform well in morning sun only or afternoon sun only. Regular summer water leads to the best blooming. Combines deliciously with chartreuse foliage or paired with lavender flowers. Do not cut back this perennial hard until all chance of frost has passed in spring (after Apri 15th) You may tidy overgrown plants at the end of summer or into fall, but do not cut back hard. Very easy to grow perennial and a wonderful flower color. Semi-deciduous to deciduous in winter. Excellent performance at the Oregon coast.
Salvia muelleri
This purple flowered royal sage has impressed us for years with its hardiness to cold, true purple flowers and tolerance of cold winter wet. A loose spreading perennial that adorns its tips with royal purple flower from June to frost. Never dense it prefers full hot sun and very well drained soils and light but consistent summer water. To 18″ tall by 2′ wide in time. Do not cut back until new growth pushes in spring. It needs a woody framework of branches to protect the overwintering crown. Takes blasting hot conditions. Moderate deer resistance. Very long blooming perennial that doesn’t flinch at heat and drought. The royal purple flowers are held in black calyxes. Excellent on slopes. Some wonderful companions are Epilobium (Zauschneria) septentrionalis ‘Select Mattole’ and Cuphea cyanea ‘hirtella’. Long lived perennial.
Salvia nutans
Nodding Sage. There is no Salvia quite like this remarkable species from the mid-asian steppes. A basal rosette of large leaves supports towering 4′ stems that erupt from the center of leaves. In May-August each stem hosts multiple nodding clumps of extremely showy blue flowers. Elegant, beautiful and hardy. Forms increasing clumps in rich to average well drained soil in full sun to very light shade. Appreciates good drainage and light consistent summer water. The blue flowers are a magnet for pollinators and they swarm en masse. Excellent and groovy cut flower for large arrangements. Otherwise a stellar perennial for borders, even rock gardens. Completely winter deciduous. Blooms a long time. A Xera Plants favorite perennial.
Salvia spathacea
Hummingbird Salvia is a Californian Sage. In rich soil it spreads liberally by underground runners to colonize large areas. That is if winter does not knock it back. Large quilted soft green arrow shaped leaves appear in early spring, by late spring 28″ tall chalice’s of rich red/pink (Raspberry) flowers erupt from dramatic and well spaced whorls. Rich to average soil that drains well. Water well in the first season to establish then very light to none in subsequent years. A Salvia of southern and central California it has a distinctive aroma that is loved by some, despised by others. Mulch with dry leaves for the first winter or two. Doesn’t like wet plus subfreezing cold. Good, and restrained in a container. Protect containerized plants from extreme cold (below 20ºF). Nice and very dramatic cut flowers. Blooms March repeatedly until June. Great for hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinators. Semi-deciduous in winter.
Salvia transylvanica
Excellent, cold hardy, easy to grow, showy blue Salvia that can be hard to find. Forms a rosette of large felted deep green leaves and in summer multiple candelabras of rich blue flower spikes appear. They are wonderful for weeks. If you remove spent spikes more will appear. Blooms (re-blooms) until September. Full sun, in rich well drained soil. Rises to 30″ in bloom and forms spreading clumps to as wide in several years. Wonderful border Salvia as it accepts regular water and rich conditions. Completely deciduous in winter. Emerges mid-spring- protect new growth from marauding slugs. Once its up thats much less of a problem. Combine with Lobelia tupa, Kniphofia ‘Lightning Bug’. Easy and spectacular. Loved by hummingbirds and pollinators.
Salvia uliginosa
Swamp sage is actually very tolerant of dry to average conditions. This special sage from South America is surprisingly cold hardy and is a large reliable perennial. 6′ tall wand-like stems terminate in rows of sky blue flowers. There is a white nectary guide on the lower lip. Forms semi-woody clumps that expand at a moderate rate to about 2′ across. Freezes to the ground below about 20ºF but is root hardy near 0ºF. Rich to average soil with regular irrigation through summer. Full sun to very light shade. Blooms appear from early June to early autumn. Excellent in the back of a border or swimming in a sea of large ornamental grass. The medium green leaves are elongated with indentation and rise up along the stem. One of the easiest and showiest of sages. Nice cut flower. Moderate deer resistance.
A hybrid between two southern California shrubby Salvias has yielded an amazing plant for our gardens. The parents of this hybrid are S. clevelandii ‘Alpine’ x S. pachyphylla and it continues the amazing foliage fragrance of Salvia clevelandii and the deep blue flowers in purple bracts echo pachyphylla. A shrub/ sub shrub for the very warmest parts of the garden. Against a south or west facing aspect. This Salvias parents come from poor, mineral soils and eventually the pale blue foliage builds to a 30″ x 4′ evergreen shrub. It loses some leaves in harsh winters . In mid to late summer upright stems support whorls that emit striking long deep blue flowers, these are held in a dark purple calyx – the each whorl is dark purple and showy before and after bloom as well. Takes the hottest locations and appreciates it. Strategically placed among large boulder that radiate heat is also useful as is in Hell strips where heat builds. The stems elongate in bloom up to 2′ and are lined with mutiple whorls. Perhaps no animal loves this sage or Salvias in general more than hummingbirds. And the radiant blue tubular flowers are perched just for them. Long blooming aromatic drought adapted sub-shrub. Good drainage, full sun, and regular water to establish, let it dry between watering during summer. Mix with Manzanita, Epilobium – Zauschneria, Grevilleas. Do not cut back until new growth begins in mid spring. Beautiful in bloom. Excellent with a gravel mulch and on south facing slopes. Protect from prolonged temperatures below 15ºF, cover with a cardboard box or a tarpaulin. Naturally drought adapted.
Salvia x ‘Christine Yeo’
Very good Salvia that blooms non-stop medium purple flowers for months in summer well into autumn. Tall growing to 3′ and somewhat wispy. A possible hybrid with the blue flowered Salvia chamaedryoides. Hummingbirds love this free blooming hardy perennial. Freezes to the ground below the mid 20’s. Returns from the base in spring. Rich, WELL DRAINED soil in full sun. Drainage in winter is the key. Add some pumice and gravel to the planting hole and water consistently to this plant good and established. Do not cut back in the spring until you actually see new growth pushing. Then remove all the dead material. Regains stature quickly in spring.