Salvia, a genus of plants in the mint (Lamiaceae) family with nearly a thousand members, is known for its toughness.
Heat tolerant, chill tolerant, drought tolerant, impervious to pests and disease, deer resistant — salvia takes a lickin’ and keeps on blooming beautifully.
“Because of their durability, salvias are something that everybody should have,” says Skip Richter, a county extension agent with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service. “Pick the right one for your area and it will be a durable plant.”
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The large number of plants in this genus also means the options are wide open, in terms of selecting the right salvia for your garden.
“There’s a salvia for pretty much every part of the continental United States,” says Richter. “Find the ones that do well in your area and you’ll have a wonderful addition to your garden.”
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All Shapes and SizesWith 900-plus types, you’d expect to encounter some variety – and you’d be right.
In this group, you’ll find perennials, annuals, semi-woody subshrubs, tall, flowy plants, and types that hug the ground almost like groundcover.
Flowers are available in a variety of hues: red, pink, white, blue, purple, coral, and yellow.
Some types appreciate full sun, and others do quite well in the shade. Some will fill the air with lovely fragrance, while others have no scent.
You’ll find salvias that do well in mass plantings, in borders, or in containers. And some give back by attracting pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds.
With such a large range of options, the tricky part is narrowing down
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