The genus Salvia is varied in size and color, easy to grow, and trouble-free. It comes to mind because so many specimens exist in my garden, and because this season is the time to schedule cutting them down. It has been about a year since I focused on these plants, so this is an occasion to revisit the garden stalwarts.
Today’s photo gallery includes a sampling of the variety of these plants in my garden. Except for one exception, these are photos not previously shared.
Background: Salvias comprise the largest genus within the Sage plant family (Lamiaceae), with close to 1,000 species plus hundreds of natural and human-made hybrids. They are native to several parts of the world: Central America and South America (approximately 600 species); Central Asia and the Mediterranean (250 species); and Eastern Asia (90 species).
Cultivation
The range of plants within this genus includes species that grow well in different exposures: full sun, partial sun or full shade. While the majority of species enjoy the Monterey Bay area climate, some species are noted for being heat-loving, drought-tolerant, or moisture-loving. Species that grow best with a combination of moisture and rich soil are characterized as cloud forest plants.
Mature size
Salvia species range in size from creeping stoloniferous perennials with soft foliage, to numerous shrubs of medium size, and a few tree-like plants.
An example of a lower-growing species is Dara’s Choice Creeping Sage (Salvia ‘Dara’s Choice’). a California native hybrid Sage that blooms in spring and early summer. This cultivar is a good choice for slopes, sunny neglected areas and problem spots.
A tall Salvia in my garden is the Sage Tree (Salvia arborescens), rising to an impressive 12 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
Blossoms
Salvia blossoms are distinctive and easily recognizable. Here is Wikipedia’s biological description: “The calyx is normally tubular or bell-shaped, without bearded throats, and divided into two parts or lips, the upper lip entire or three-toothed, the lower two-cleft. The corollas are often claw-shaped and are two-lipped. The upper lip is usually entire or three-toothed. The lower lip typically has two lobes.”
Salvia cultivars are available in a wide range of colors: blue, red, purple, orange, pink, yellow, white, green and brown. A few selections have multicolored flowers. A multicolored Salvia in my garden is the popular “Hot Lips,” with blossoms that combine white and red.
Pruning Salvias
Sunset’s Western Garden Book recommends pruning Salvias in late winter or early spring, when “vigorous new growth is emerging from the plant base.” Then, tip-pinch plants during the growing season or cut them back by one-third to control size and shape.
This is good, basic pruning guidance for this genus, but the Salvia genus includes a wide variety of plants, so pruning practices vary within the genus. The Flowers by the Sea (a reliable reference) recommends pruning Salvias according to four broad categories:
• Rosette Types, which develop low mounds of foliage from which flower spikes emerge. Hummingbird Sage (Salvia spathacea) is a familiar example. Most plants in this category are winter bloomers, entering dormancy in summer. Summer-flowering varieties will go dormant in autumn. When dormant, cut flowering stems to the ground.
• Evergreen, Woody Salvias, with the characteristics of a shrub, and could grow quite high. An example of this category is Karwinski’s Sage (S. karwinski), which can reach 10 feet tall. These plants can be pruned at any time of the year. Removing old growth encourages new growth and supports shaping of the plant’s size and shape.
• Deciduous, Woody Salvias lose their leaves in the winter, but in the Monterey Bay area’s moderate climate do not die to the ground. A popular variety in this category is Autumn Sage (S. greggii), which blooms from spring to fall. After the last bloom, cut stems to the ground.
• Deciduous or Semi-Evergreen, Soft-Stem Salvias lose all or most of their leaves at the end of the growing season and can be unsightly for those who prefer a neat garden. Mexican Bush Sage (S. leucantha), with purple and white blossoms, is a widely grown example in this category. These plants can/should be cut to the ground after the growing season. This might seem drastic, but they will come back quickly in the spring.
Advance your garden knowledge
Sources of information on cultivating Salvias include the following:
• Flowers by the Sea (www.fbts.com). This is a highly developed website with extensive information about species and hybrids of the Salvia genus, including photos, which are useful for plant identification. This is a valuable resource for navigating through the “salvia universe.” Flowers by the Sea of course also offers Salvia plants for purchase.
• Salvia Entry, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvia). This site includes thorough basic information about the genus and a list of links to more detailed information on 26 particularly well-known species.
• Sunset’s “Western Garden Book,” Kathleen Breznel, Editor (Sunset, 2001). This popular reference book includes five-plus pages of summary information on selected Salvia species.
• “The New Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden,” Betsy Clebsch, Author (Timber Press 2013). This gardener has been called “The Sage of Salvias” (pun intended) because of her enthusiasm for this genus and her practical advice on their cultivation, drawing upon her growing experience in the Monterey Bay area. Her book is a “must-read” for dedicated Salvia gardeners.
• “Gardener’s Guide to Growing Salvias,” by John Sutton (Timber Press, 2004). This book is a useful complement to the Clebsch book, with a somewhat different perspective.
• “American Horticultural Society’s A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants,” Christopher Brickell & Judith Zuk, Editors (DK Publishing, 1996). Another valuable reference book, it includes authoritative brief descriptions of a long list of Salvia species.
Enjoy your garden and particularly Salvia, which I call super shrubs!
Tom Karwin is a past president of Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and the Monterey Bay Iris Society, a past president and Lifetime Member of the Monterey Bay Area Cactus & Succulent Society, and a Lifetime UC Master Gardener (Certified 1999–2009). He is now a board member of the Santa Cruz Hostel Society, and active with the Pacific Horticultural Society. To view photos from his garden, https://www.facebook.com/ongardeningcom-566511763375123/ . For garden coaching info and an archive of On Gardening columns, visit ongardening.com for earlier columns or visit www.santacruzsentinel.com/ and search for “Karwin” for more recent columns. Email comments or questions to gardening@karwin.com.
