by Barb Levisay
Let’s start by clearing up some confusion about salvia versus sage. Most people think of salvia as the bright red annual in the flower garden and sage as the herb used for turkey dressing. But actually, salvia and sage are synonymous, identifying a broad range of plants—from annuals to shrubs—that are all part of the Lamiaceae family.
Annual salvias are usually started from seed or purchased as a small plant from a garden center. They will die back at frost and not return unless they have dropped viable seeds. Perennial salvias will return year after year from their roots and may self-sow through dropped seeds as well. An easy identifier for salvias is their square stems, just like their cousins the mints.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve added more blue salvias to my gardens. They are deer resistant, the bees and hummingbirds love them, and they provide a beautiful contrast to pink, red, and yellow annuals. This summer, I have four types of salvias in my gardens that are real stunners. Two are perennials and two are annuals, so let’s look at the qualities of each.
The annuals: Blue Suede Shoes and Mystic Spires
The two annuals in my garden are Blue Suede Shoes and Mystic Spires. It’s my first year for Blue Suede Shoes and it hasn’t disappointed. The plant is almost 40 inches tall, almost as wide, and covered with dainty blooms. I’ve deadheaded a couple of times, but it’s been carefree otherwise. The foliage is a beautiful tone of green and the plant is upright without staking.
Annual Salvia “Blue Suede Shoes” (all photos include 36" yard stick for size comparison).
The Mystic Spires is a more spectacular performer, but also requires a bit more attention. The bees absolutely love the huge blue flower spires and it is always buzzing with activity. But the plant is robust to a fault. The ever-expanding blooms get so heavy, they tend to break off whole branches. Not that the plant seems to mind, it keeps putting out new blooms and regenerating branches all the way until frost.
Annual Salvia “Mystic Spires,” plants spread out 36 inches and more as the season progresses.
By mid-August Mystic Spires is about two feet tall with flower spikes growing to 36 inches. The plant is upright, but the branches do tend to sprawl out and take over their neighbors.
Perennials: May Night and Evolution
The perennial salvias may not be quite the show-offs that the annuals are, but they return every year to provide structure and long-lasting blue color to the garden. I’ve had salvia May Night since 2018 and it’s become the backbone of several of my flower beds.
Perennial salvia "May Night" has been a consistent performer in my garden since 2018. Paired here behind pink Angelonia.
May Night comes up reliably from the roots as well as self-seeding some additional plants each year. The volunteers move easily, as do the established plants, so you can move them to fit the best place in your garden each year. They start blooming in June and continue on until frost.
You can help May Night bush out and produce more blooms with a good pruning in May and continued dead-heading. The plants provide a lovely backdrop to show off annuals like vinca, Angelonia, and zinnias.
Last, but certainly not least is salvia Evolution. I started the pictured plants from seed in spring 2021 and they struggled through the summer but survived the winter. My expectations were not high when I replanted them into a new bed this spring. But wow…have they excelled. Even the most pitiful specimen is now a robust, compact plant covered in blooms and a favorite of the bees.
Salvia "Evolution" is a brilliant, compact stunner for any garden.
Evolution is a 2006 All-American Selection for good reason (which is why I started the seeds). It would be as perfect in containers as it is in the flower bed. The plant is about 18 inches with flower spikes going up another 8-10 inches. Evolution is a well-behaved salvia you can mix in with annuals and other perennials to create a more colorful tapestry.
Deer resistant, long lasting, and statuesque
All of these salvias have proved deer resistance in my beds, which is a huge benefit. They all deliver vivid color and feed the bees all through the summer and fall. Their upright structure makes them the standout in your flower beds providing mid-tier height and color. Blue salvias really do offer a winning combination for every garden.
Let me know if you have any questions at barb.levisay@gmail.com