Genus: Salvia

Common Names: sage (now includes rosemary as well)

Description coming soon.

Distribution: widespread

Salvia 'Christine Yeo'

Description: perennial; thought to be a cross between S. microphylla and S. chamaedryoides that originated in the garden of horticulture writer, Christine Yeo. At the time of introduction, mid purple flowers on an S. microphylla hybrid were quite uncommon. Aromatic green leaves and purple flower spikes from summer until the first frost. Vigorous and long-blooming.

Height: to 3 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia 'Dennis' Pink'

Description: perennial; vigorous growth with aromatic, foliage and relatively large, bright pink flowers from summer until first frost. One of the earliest of the S. microphylla-types to bloom in our garden each year. 

Height: to 3 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia 'Dyson's Joy'

Description: perennial; of garden origin with a strong resemblance to S. greggii. Aromatic foliage and bicolor flowers of pink with a lower white lip complemented by dark calyces. Long-blooming from summer until first frost. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia 'Flower Child'

Description: perennial; a Salvia microphylla-type found as a lighter pink branch sport of Salvia 'Berzerkely' and introduced by Monterey Bay Nursery in 2009.  Aromatic green foliage and light pink flowers complemented by blue-black bracts. Incredibly floriferous and long-blooming. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia 'Hot Lips'

Description: perennial; undoubtedly the most popular and well-known of any of the S. microphylla-types. Introduced by the Strybing Arboretum around 1999 via Richard Turner and Alta Gracia. Vigorous, robust growth with aromatic leaves and seductive bi-color flowers with white tops and red "lips." Long-blooming from summer until first frost.

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 5 ft.

Salvia 'La Trinidad Pink'

Common name(s): Trinity Mountain sage

Description: perennial; an especially hardy and drought tolerant selection of S. microphylla from the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in Nuevo León that was collected and introduced by Yucca Do Nursery of Giddings, Texas in the 1990s. Relatively low and spreading growth aromatic green foliage and large pink flowers from summer until first frost. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 4 ft.

Salvia 'Nachtvlinder'

Description: perennial; thought to be a hybrid of S. microphylla and S. gregii -the name translates to "night butterfly" in German. Vigorous growth with aromatic, dark green foliage and dark, plum-purple flower spikes from mid summer until the first frost. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia 'Royal Bumble'

Description: perennial; considered to be one of the best of the red-flowered Salvia microphylla-types. Vigorous growth with aromatic foliage and pure red flower spikes from spring until first frost. Further complemented by very dark stems and calyces behind each flower.

Height: to 30 in. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia 'San Carlos Festival'

Description: perennial; a selection of S. microphylla from a wild population in San Carlos, Tamaulipas at approximately 3800 ft. elevation. Collected and introduced by Yucca Do Nursery of Giddings, Texas in 1997. Compact and low-growing with aromatic foliage and stunning magenta flower spikes from summer until first frost. One of our favorites and simply stunning when mass planted at the front of a border.

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia 'UC Pink'

Description: perennial; one of the largest, most vigorous growers of the S. microphylla-types. Aromatic foliage and dark pink flower spikes from summer until first frost. 

Height: to 3 ft. Spread: to 4 ft.

Salvia greggii 'Alba'

Common name(s): white autumn sage, hardy white salvia

Description: perennial; a white-flowered selection of S. greggii. Tidy, aromatic foliage and pure white flower spikes from late spring into autumn. Long-blooming and long-lived.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia 'Marine Blue'

Description: perennial; thought to be a hybrid of S. chamaedryoides. Vigorous growth with aromatic, gray-green leaves and dark blue flower spikes from summer until first frost. Requires fast-draining soil to thrive.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia arizonica

Common name(s): Arizona blue sage

Description: perennial; found in dry, shady biomes in the Sky Islands of S. Arizona and N. Mexico as well as the Chisos Mountains of SW Texas. Low, spreading growth with aromatic, triangular leaves and abundant blue-violet flower spikes in summer. Performs best with morning sun and afternoon shade.

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia apiana

Common name(s): white sage, sacred sage

Description: evergreen shrub; native to S. California & Baja California with a long history of use for food, medicine, and ceremonies by several First Nations peoples including the Cahuilla and Chumash. Powerfully aromatic foliage and long spikes of white flowers in summer. Very notable as a pollinator plant. Easily damaged by hard frosts and not easy to cultivate in areas with cold winters. 

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 6 ft.

Salvia aurea syn: Salvia africana-lutea

Common name(s): dune sage, beach sage, golden sage

Description: perennial; a semi-evergreen shrub native to rocky slopes and sand dunes in the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Vigorous, upright growth with aromatic, gray-green foliage and huge bronze-orange flower spikes in summer. Used medicinally to treat respiratory ailments. Requires lean, fast-draining soil to thrive.

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 6 ft.

Salvia candelabrum

Common name(s): candelabra sage

Description: evergreen shrub; low, compact growth with aromatic gray-green foliage and two-toned violet and white flowers on long (2 ft.+) branched stems in summer. Requires gritty, fast-draining soil to thrive.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia chamaedryoides

Common name(s): germander sage

Description: perennial; aromatic, gray-green foliage and dark blue flower spikes in summer. Thrives in dry, sunny sites with fast-draining soil. 

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 18 in.

Salvia clevelandii  'Alpine'

Common name(s): musk sage, alpine cleveland sage

Description: evergreen shrub; an exceptionally cold hardy selection of S. clevelandii that was collected near the town of Alpine in San Diego County and introduced by Bert Wilson of Las Pilitas Nursery. Low, spreading growth with strongly aromatic foliage and whorls of blue-violet flowers in summer. Performs best in lean soil with little to no supplemental water. Very popular with swallowtail butterflies!

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia coahuilensis

Common name(s): Coahuila Sage

Description: perennial; native to the Sierra Madre Oriental in the southern boundary of Coahuila, Mexico. Vigorous growth with aromatic foliage and blue-purple flower spikes from summer until first frost. Rare in cultivation. 

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia darcyi

Common name(s): Galeana red sage, Darcy's sage

Description: perennial; native to a small area in the Sierra Madre Oriental of Nuevo León, Mexico. Vigorous, branched growth and somewhat sticky, bright green foliage with large red flower spikes from summer into autumn. Spreads slowly by stolons into a large clump. Completely winter deciduous in cold winter climates.

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 6 ft.

Salvia elegans

Common name(s): pineapple sage

Description: perennial; native to Mexico. Leaves possess a powerful pineapple aroma and make for a pleasant addition to fruit salads and iced teas. Scarlet red flower spikes in late summer keep the hummingbirds coming back for more.

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia elegans 'Tangerine'

Common name(s): tangerine sage

Description: perennial; a selection with darker red flowers, and shrubbier, lower growth than the common form of S. elegans (pineapple sage). Aromatic leaves release a powerful fruity aroma when bruised and make for a pleasant addition to fruit salads and iced teas. Scarlet red flower spikes in late summer attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 3 ft.

Salvia fruticosa × S. officinalis 'Newe Ya'ar'

Common name(s): Newe Ya’ar sage, silver sage

Description: evergreen shrub; a hybrid dalmation sage developed by horticulturalists in Israel to withstand harsh climates. Gaining popularity amongst chefs and consumers for its color retention when cooked and long shelf life when dried. It's also reported to be lower in camphor content and have a milder, more pleasant flavor than most garden sages. Downy, silver leaves and blue flowers in summer.

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia fruticosa × S. officinalis 'Rubriflora'

Common name(s): pink-flowered sage

Description: evergreen shrub; a hybrid selection with pink flowers, and somewhat narrow, sparse foliage. More adapted to drought than many cultivars of garden sage but also slightly less productive. Low, spreading growth with pleasantly aromatic gray-green foliage and pink flower spikes in summer. 

Height: to 30 in. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten'

Common name(s):  Berggarten sage

Description: perennial; a cultivar introduced by Herrenhausen Grosser Garten of Hannover, Germany. Translates to "mountain garden sage". Low, spreading growth with large, evergreen leaves covered with soft, white hairs. Often preferred by chefs for culinary use.  One of the most reliable and long-lived selections of S. officinalis. Seldom flowers.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Icterina' 

Common name(s): golden sage

Description: perennial; an attractive, evergreen culinary sage with low, spreading growth and soft green leaves edged in gold. Also popular for ornamental use. Seldom flowers.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Minimus' 

Common name(s): dwarf sage

Description: perennial; a culinary sage with low, spreading growth and narrow, evergreen foliage. Lavender-blue flower spikes in summer attract an array of pollinators. More drought tolerant than most other garden sages.

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens'

Common name(s): purple sage

Description: perennial; an attractive, evergreen culinary sage with low, spreading growth and aromatic, purple-green leaves. Also popular for ornamental use. Seldom flowers.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor'

Common name(s): tricolor sage

Description: perennial; an attractive, evergreen culinary sage with low, spreading growth and aromatic, tricolor leaves. Also popular for ornamental use. Seldom flowers.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Snowflake'

Common name(s): snowflake garden sage, snowflake sage

Description: perennial; an attractive, evergreen culinary sage with low, spreading growth and crinkly, gray leaves. Also popular for ornamental use. Seldom flowers. Introduced by Hishtil in 2023.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis 'Woodcote Farm'

Common name(s): Woodcote sage, Woodcote Farm sage

Description: perennial; low, spreading growth with two-toned leaves of dark green and green-gray. Rarely flowers.

An old standard for commercially grown garden sage in the U.S. and England.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 30 in.

Salvia officinalis subsp. lavandulifolia

Common name(s): Spanish sage, lavender sage

Description: evergreen shrub; native to Spain and especially adapted to long periods of drought. Low, compact growth with aromatic, gray-green foliage and pale violet flower spikes in summer. 

Height: to 18 in. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia 'Little Spire'

Common name(s): Russian sage

Description: perennial; a hybrid of several Salvia species that were formerly considered be in the genus Perovskia. Raised from seed and introduced by Herbert Oudshoorn of The Netherlands in 1998. Notable as a  particularly low-growing selection of Russian sage. Aromatic gray-green foliage and long, blue-violet flower spikes from summer until first frost. Adored by pollinators.

Height: to 2 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia yangii

Common name(s): Russian sage

Description: perennial; vigorous, upright growth with aromatic gray-green foliage and long, abundant blue-purple flower spikes from summer into fall. An easy plant for beginners as it tolerates almost any soil and climate (as well as just about any amount of neglect).

Height: to 4 ft. Spread: to 2 ft.

Salvia rosmarinus

Common name(s): rosemary

Description: following a 2017 genetic study, rosemaries (formerly considered to be in their own genus, Rosmarinus) were reclassified as members of the genus Salvia. Our collection of over 40 rosemary cultivars can be found on their own page: Salvia rosmarinus.

Salvia uliginosa

Common name(s): bog sage

Description: perennial; native to bogs and wetlands in South America but surprisingly well-adapted to summer dry conditions. Vigorous, upright growth with aromatic, dark green foliage and long, wispy spikes of two-toned blue and white flowers. To full height in one season. 

Height: to 6 ft. Spread: to 3 ft.