Salvias have totally won me over—they’re tough, gorgeous, and bloom like there’s no tomorrow. I started with one and quickly got hooked on their non-stop color and how happy they make the bees and hummingbirds.
If your garden’s feeling a little blah, these plants can turn things around fast. They come in all kinds of shades and sizes, so there’s something for every corner.
Let’s check out some of the most stunning types that’ll keep your garden glowing.
1. Salvia Greggii
Also known as Autumn Sage, this compact beauty blooms from spring until the first frost. The vibrant red, pink, or purple flowers stand out against its small, aromatic leaves.
Native to Texas and Mexico, it thrives in hot, dry conditions and poor soil. Butterflies and hummingbirds can’t resist its nectar-rich blooms, making your garden buzz with activity all season long.
2. Salvia Leucantha
Mexican Bush Sage creates a dramatic display with its fuzzy purple calyces and white flowers that appear in late summer. The velvety texture adds an unexpected tactile element to garden borders.
Growing up to 4 feet tall, this showstopper needs plenty of space to spread its wings. Despite its tropical appearance, it’s surprisingly drought-tolerant once established and will reward minimal care with months of stunning blooms.
3. Salvia Guaranitica
Commonly called Blue Anise Sage, this tall beauty produces intense cobalt-blue flowers that seem to glow in the garden. Hummingbirds become frequent visitors when these striking blooms appear from midsummer until frost.
Unlike some salvias, this variety appreciates regular watering and partial shade in hot climates. Its anise-scented foliage releases a pleasant licorice fragrance when brushed against, adding another sensory dimension to your garden experience.
4. Salvia Microphylla
Baby Sage delights with its profusion of lipstick-red or hot pink blooms against small, aromatic leaves. The compact habit makes it perfect for containers or front-of-border plantings where its continuous blooms can be appreciated up close.
Hardy and adaptable, this salvia laughs at drought once established. Deer and rabbits typically avoid its strongly-scented foliage, making it an excellent choice for gardens plagued by hungry wildlife.
5. Salvia Elegans
Pineapple Sage earns its name from leaves that release a distinct tropical fragrance when crushed. The brilliant scarlet tubular flowers appear late in the season, creating a dramatic autumn display just when the garden needs a color boost.
Beyond its ornamental value, this culinary salvia adds zest to summer drinks and desserts. The edible flowers make beautiful garnishes, while the aromatic leaves can be brewed into a refreshing tea or muddled into mojitos.
6. Salvia Farinacea
Mealycup Sage creates spikes of powder-blue or purple flowers that seem to float above the garden from early summer until frost. The gray-green foliage provides an attractive backdrop for the airy blooms that sway gracefully in the slightest breeze.
Perfect for adding vertical interest to borders, this tough Texas native handles heat and drought with ease. Its long blooming period and low maintenance requirements make it a favorite for busy gardeners who want maximum impact with minimal effort.
7. Salvia Coccinea
Texas Sage bursts with scarlet blooms that appear within weeks of planting and continue non-stop through summer. This quick-growing annual or short-lived perennial self-seeds readily, creating new plants each year without becoming invasive.
Hummingbirds find the tubular red flowers irresistible, darting from bloom to bloom throughout the day. Despite its delicate appearance, this tough plant thrives in poor soil and scorching heat where other flowers would quickly wither.
8. Salvia Splendens
Scarlet Sage creates bold splashes of color with its dense spikes of brilliant red, purple, or white flowers. While typically grown as an annual, this Brazilian native puts on a non-stop show from spring until frost in most climates.
Perfect for adding drama to containers and borders, it combines beautifully with other summer bloomers. The tidy, compact habit requires little maintenance beyond occasional deadheading to keep the vibrant flower show going all season long.
9. Salvia Nemorosa
Woodland Sage produces lavender-purple flower spikes that create a sea of color in early summer gardens. A quick trim after the first flush of blooms encourages a repeat performance later in the season.
This European native forms tidy mounds that look spectacular when planted in drifts. Bees and butterflies flock to the nectar-rich blooms, while deer and rabbits typically leave the aromatic foliage alone, making it a win-win for wildlife-friendly gardens.
10. Salvia Patens
Gentian Sage boasts the most intense true-blue flowers in the plant kingdom. The large, almost orchid-like blooms appear on upright stems above the arrow-shaped foliage, creating a striking vertical accent.
Native to Mexico, this tender perennial can be grown as an annual in colder regions or overwintered indoors. The tuberous roots store energy for next season’s growth, allowing the plant to return bigger and better after a winter rest.
11. Salvia Argentea
Silver Sage makes a dramatic statement with its huge, woolly leaves that form a ground-hugging rosette of pure white. The fuzzy texture begs to be touched and provides exceptional contrast against dark-leaved plants.
In its second year, tall flower stalks emerge bearing white blooms with a hint of pink. Though the flowering is impressive, many gardeners grow this Mediterranean native primarily for its spectacular silver foliage that shimmers in moonlight gardens.
12. Salvia Azurea
Prairie Sage brings the color of autumn skies to the late-season garden with its azure-blue flower spikes. The slender stems sway gracefully in the breeze, creating movement and catching light in beautiful ways.
Native to American prairies, this tough plant handles challenging conditions with ease. It’s a perfect choice for naturalistic plantings and meadow gardens where its tall, airy form can mingle with ornamental grasses and late-blooming perennials.
13. Salvia Discolor
Andean Silver Sage creates drama with its nearly black flowers emerging from silvery-white calyces. The striking color combination makes this unusual salvia a conversation starter in any garden.
The velvety gray-white foliage adds to its appeal, providing beautiful texture even when the plant isn’t flowering. Native to Peru’s high mountains, it prefers cool summers and excellent drainage, making it perfect for coastal gardens or containers where conditions can be controlled.
14. Salvia Officinalis
Common Sage serves double duty as both ornamental and culinary superstar. The soft, gray-green leaves add beautiful texture to garden beds and release their savory fragrance when brushed against.
While primarily grown for its aromatic leaves used in cooking, this Mediterranean native also produces pretty purple-blue flower spikes in early summer. Various cultivars offer foliage in purple, gold, or variegated patterns, expanding its ornamental potential beyond the kitchen garden.
15. Salvia Involucrata
Roseleaf Sage produces spectacular rose-pink flowers nestled within showy bracts. The large blooms appear on tall stems in late summer and continue into fall, providing color when many other perennials have finished their show.
Native to Mexican cloud forests, this salvia appreciates more moisture and shade than its desert-dwelling cousins. Its lush growth and tropical appearance make it a standout in partly shaded borders where its vibrant color can brighten dim corners.
16. Salvia Uliginosa
Bog Sage defies the drought-loving reputation of most salvias by thriving in moist soil conditions. The sky-blue flowers appear on tall, wiry stems that dance above the foliage from midsummer until frost.
Despite its delicate appearance, this South American native is surprisingly robust. It spreads slowly through underground runners to form elegant drifts, making it perfect for rain gardens or pond edges where its reflection doubles the visual impact of its heavenly blue blooms.
17. Salvia Clevelandii
Cleveland Sage fills the air with an intoxicating fragrance often described as the scent of the California chaparral. The whorled lavender-blue flowers create architectural interest atop silvery-gray foliage that remains attractive year-round.
Extremely drought-tolerant, this California native thrives on neglect and poor soil. Its intense fragrance and nectar-rich blooms attract beneficial insects by the dozens, making it a powerhouse plant for supporting local ecology in water-wise gardens.
18. Salvia Chamaedryoides
Germander Sage creates a stunning color combination with its true-blue flowers against silver-gray foliage. The low, spreading habit makes it perfect for front-of-border positions or spilling over walls and container edges.
Native to Mexican highlands, this tough little salvia handles heat and drought with ease. It flowers almost continuously from spring through fall in mild climates, creating a long-lasting display that requires minimal water or maintenance to look its best.