Super Salvia!

7  Hard Working Perennial Salvia

Salvia farinacea, common name Mealy Sage

(includes Henry Duelberg (A Texas Superstar), and white form Augusta Duelberg)

Mature Size: 2-3ft H, 2-3ft W

Light Requirement: Sun
Water Need: Low
Cold Hardiness: Zone 8 (10 to 15F) to 11 (above 40F)

Soil: Prefers limestone soil but tolerates other well drained types
Description: Deciduous perennial with mid-size leaves and loose growth habit. Spring through fall flowers carried on spikes above the foliage attract pollinators and dependent on variety can be either white or violet blue. Benefits from deadheading. In late winter trim off dead stems. Deer resistant. Drought tolerance once established. Great for rocky limestone spots.

Salvia greggii

Mature Size: 3ft H, 3ft W
Light Requirement: Sun to partial shade
Water Need: Low to medium, more in full sun
Cold Hardiness: Zone 7 (0 to 5F) to 9 (25 to 30F)

Soil: Well drained. Prefers slightly acidic but can tolerate others

Fun Fact: This Salvia is originally from Mexico, brought here and popularized by Pat McNeal (passed in 2024) of Pat McNeal growers.
Description: Small leaved semi-evergreen shrubby salvia well suited to our area. It thrives in hot areas. Many bloom colors are available, from white, coral, pink, raspberry, red, and white. Butterfly, bee, and hummingbird friendly but deer repellant and drought tolerant. Prune by one-third to rejuvenate up to 3 times per year especially early spring. Great plant for foundational settings.

Salvia guaranitica Black & Blue, common name Anise Scented Sage

(includes Amistad and Black n Bloom)

Mature Size: 2-5ft H, 4-5ft W
Light Requirement: Sun to partial shade
Water Need: Medium
Cold Hardiness: Zone 8 (10 to 15F) to 10 (35 to 40F)

Soil: Prefers rich loams
Description: Deciduous Salvia, with a bushy habit. Stems are square and dark green. Long blue or purple flower spikes June through October are attractive to hummingbirds. Cut back to 6″ before new spring growth or if freeze damage occurs. Deer tolerant. Deserves a spotlight in the landscape!

Salvia leucantha, common names Mexican Bush Sage, Velvet Sage

Mature Size: 3-5ft H, 3-5ft W
Light Requirement: Sun to partial shade
Water Need: Low to medium, evenly moist when young
Cold Hardiness: Zone 8 (10 to 15F) to 10 (35 to 40F)

Soil: Rich
Description: Texas Superstar deciduous shrubby Salvia. Silver-green leaves and raspberry-purple, late summer early fall, flower spikes attracting pollinators and hummingbirds. Drought and heat tolerance once established. Deer avoid. Stems may die back in winter. Late season mid height showy flowers.

Salvia microphylla Hot Lips

Mature Size: 3ft H, 4ft W
Light Requirement: Sun to partial shade
Water Need: Low to medium, more in full sun
Cold Hardiness: Zone 8 (10 to 15F) to 11 (above 40F)

Soil: Well drained
Description: Deciduous Salvia, native to Mexico /Southeast Arizona. Small green leaves with red and white snapdragon like flowers Spring through Fall. Attractive to pollinators and hummingbirds. Deer resistant and drought tolerant. Plant dies back to the ground reappearing in Spring. Eyecatcher in beds.

Fun Fact: Flower color is heat triggered. Redder in spring, whiter in summer, back to redder in the fall!

Salvia nemorosa May Night

Mature Size: 18in H, 18in W
Light Requirement: Sun
Water Need: Medium
Cold Hardiness: Zone 4 (-30 to 25F) to 9 (25 to 30F)

Soil: Moist and well drained but can handle gravelly or sandy
Description: Deciduous Salvia with compact growth habit. Pollinator friendly, deep purple flower spikes in spring. Deadhead/ water to keep them coming. Thrives in sun and heat. Deer resistant. Low borders.

Salvia x Indigo Spires and Salvia x Mystic Spires Blue

Mature Size: 3-4ft H, 4-5ft W
Light Requirement: Sun
Water Need: Low
Cold Hardiness: Zone 7 (5 to 10F) to 11 (above 40F)Soil: Well drained
Description: Deciduous Salvia with large leaves and very large spikes of pollinator friendly, blue-purple flowers spring until frost. Mystic shorter than Indigo and more blooms. Both work for cut flowers. Does not need a lot of fertilizer. Drought tolerance once established and deer tolerant as well. Showstopper near traffic areas.

4 More Awesome Salvia Varieties!

Salvia clevelandii, common name Fragrant Sage

Mature Size: 3-4ft H, 4-6ft W
Light Requirement: Sun
Water Need: Low
Cold Hardiness: Zone 8 (10 to 15F) to 10 (35 to 40F)

Soil: Prefers somewhat rocky soil, amend clay soil for better drainage

Description: Native to California. An evergreen shrubby perennial with wrinkled gray fragrant leaves. Purple flowers, attractive to pollinators, are held above the foliage throughout the season. Drought tolerance once established. Does not need a lot of fertilizer. Deadheading will provide more blooms. Cut back in early spring. Deer resistant and important for native bees. Place at the back of the landscape with shorter items in front.

Salvia lyrata – Lyreleaf Sage

Mature Size: 2ft H, 1ft W

Light Requirement: Sun, Partial Shade, Shade

Water Need: Low to Medium

Cold Hardiness: Zone 5 (-20 to -15F) to 9 (25 to 30F)

Soil: Rich to well drained sand, rocky, or loam.  Does prefer slightly acidic

Description: A perennial Salvia native to Eastern Texas. This unusual Salvia forms a basal rosette of dark green, hairy leaves that often display a tinge of purple in the winter. Square stems arise from the base and carry tubular flowers of varying colors of blue, and blooming from March through June. Foliage is similar to Ajuga, and the plant can be used as a self-seeding groundcover.  It is mow-able and walkable. Excellent for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Can tolerate drought and overwatering.

Salvia madrensis – Forsythia Sage

Mature Size: 3ft H in bloom, 5-8ft W
Light Requirement: Sun to Partial Shade, does not like full afternoon sun
Water Need: Low to Medium, more in full sun
Cold Hardiness: Zone 7 (0 to 5F) to 9 (25 to 30F)

Soil: Good drainage

Description: A yellow fall blooming Salvia with grey green leaves. It tends to be a bit sprawly. Pollinators and hummingbirds love it. It generally dies back to ground in the winter, reappearing the following spring and benefits from being cut back to the ground before new spring growth. Too much shade will hamper bloom. Deer resistant. Drought and heat tolerant. Another Sage for the back of the landscape.

Salvia roemeriana

Mature Size: 1-2ft H, 1-2ft W
Light Requirement: Full sun in the morning, shade late in day, or dapple shade
Water Need: Low
Cold Hardiness: Zone 7 (0 to 5F) to 11 (above 40F)Soil: Alkaline and well drained to dry
Description: Native to Texas and one of few salvias adapted to grow in the leaf-mulch and shade of Ashe Junipers. Red flowers are in abundance in spring and occasionally during the summer. Butterfly and hummingbird friendly. Deer resistant. Drought tolerance once established. Root hardy plant similar to Tropical Sage. Great in naturalized settings and best in easily viewed areas.