2016 list

Updated 20 October 2015

All packets are $4.00. 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.

  All Salvias are in the Lamiaceae.

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               CN

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 perennial 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. photo 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 clevelandii hybrids - California.  Seed was collected from Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman' in the presence of other California species and they are known to cross freely. Parent has aromatic leaves, bright blue fls. 50 seeds    CN

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 coccinea 'Vermillion '– Tropical S. America. Freely blooming sage carries bright orange red flowers for months and is most attractive to hummingbirds. 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   CN

Salvia desoleana - Sardinia. photo 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.             30 seeds

Salvia disermas - pink flower 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 flower - 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 hierosolymitana – Middle East. photo Very large basal leaves are green. Early spring brings long flower stems with a succession of deep red purple—almost maroon-- flowers. Plants are hardy, but spring frosts can damage flowers.  50 seeds

Salvia 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 macrophylla - upright form - Peru. Upright sage, to 5'+. Flower spikes are 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. Broad green leaves. 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 patens 'Pink Ice' – Mexico. photo Pale pink form of the large flowered sage. Plants can be over 2' tall and flowers appear throughout the summer.            20 seeds

Salvia pratensis 'Haemotodes' - Europe. photo 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 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        50 seeds

Salvia semiatrata – Mexico. Well branched shrub to 4-5' has rich green leaves with a pebbly texture; spring and summer flowers combine light violet and deepest purple, and are held in a hot pink calyx. Z9 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.      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 texana – Texas, New Mexico, Mexico. Sturdy small perennial sage to 18" has bright blue-purple flowers. that show up well among bristly calyces. Great for dry gardens. 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