Salvia, Sage - Flowering Perennials

Salvia or Sage is a very large and varied group of aromatic and often hairy or wooly leaved plants. They are mainly medium sized blue or purple flowered plants with highly aromatic leaves.

Salvias are good for a sunny border in full sun or sometimes in light dappled shade as long as they get full sun for at least part of the day. The hairy leaved varieties tend to be the most drought resistant and also the least tolerant of winter wet. 

The group as a whole will grow in some very hot and dry conditions and will also withstand very cold winters, what they don't like is wet in winter when a relatively mild winter can cause the demise of a plant that would be quite happy in much colder conditions if it were drier. Incorporating gravel or grit at planting time will help and also planting on top of a slope where drainage will be sharper.

Sages are generally trouble free though may be susceptible to rots and fungus in damp conditions and also to slugs and snails when the leaves are emerging.

Like all aromatic plants, their leaf oils are produced most abundantly in hot and dry conditions,

Propagation is by seed usually sown in a coldframe in summer, or by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings taken in spring or early summer. Rooting can be slow and the growing medium should contain a high proportion of sharp sand, about 50% to prevent rot through standing in excess wet.