Annual Salvias or Sages

Salvia is the largest genus in the Mint family (Lamiaceae) with over 1000 species of annual, biennial, perennial, and shrub-like species originating from many parts of the globe. While the perennial salvias or sages are popular US landscape plants, the annual salvias offer a stunning array of flower colors, habits, and foliage.

Salvia black and blue — Anise-scented sage (*Salvia gauranitica* 'Black and Blue')

Salvia elegans2 — Pineapple sage (*Salvia elegans*)

Leaves can be glossy or fuzzy and tend to be highly aromatic. The leaf and flower fragrance can deter deer and rabbits from browsing on plants. Flowers are tubular with a split (2-lipped) lower petal. Flower colors include many shades of white, pink, peach, red, burgundy, blue, purple, and bicolors. Annual salvia flowers are often larger than the perennial salvia species and are magnets for pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Some of the taller species are popular cut flowers.

Tips on Growing Annual Salvia

Annual salvias are easy to grow in the home landscape. They work well in beds, borders, and containers.

Salvia Amante — *Anise-scented sage (Salvia gauranitica* 'Amante')

Salvia coral nymph — Texas Sage (*Salvia coccinea* 'Coral Nymph')

For best performance:

Plant in a sunny site with well-drained soil after the threat of frost has passed in spring.
Pinch (remove the tips) of tall seedlings to encourage branching and more blooms.
Water and fertilize regularly, especially plants in containers.
Protect from rabbits for the first month after planting until established.
Deadhead flowers to prevent reseeding and encourage more blooms.

Species and Cultivars

There are several species and hybrids of annual salvia that bloom most of the summer in the home landscape.

Species	Common name	Height (feet)	Popular Cultivars	Comments
Salvia argentea	Silver sage	1-3’	Artemis	Biennial sage; large woolly leaves; white flowers year 2
Salvia coccinea	Texas sage	1-3’	Coral Nymph Forest Fire Summer Jewels series Lady in Red Unplugged Red	Red, pink, or peach flowers
Salvia elegans	Pineapple sage	2-4’	Golden Delicious	Red flowers: Later blooming; fragrant leaves
Salvia farinacea	Mealycup sage	1-3’	Evolution Fairy Queen Strata Victoria Blue Unplugged So Blue	Blue, purple, or white flowers Hybrids with S. longispicata (Rockin’ series, Mystic spires, Big Blue, etc.)
Salvia greggii	Autumn sage	2-3’	Wild Thing Raspberry Delight Radio Red	Several hybrids with S. microphylla like Lipstick and Chiffon
Salvia gauranitica	Anise-scented sage	2-5’	Black and Blue Amante Amistad Bodacious	Blue or pink flowers; sometimes black stems
Salvia leucantha	Mexican bush or velvet sage	2-3’	Phyllis Fancy (a hybrid with S. chiapensis)	Purple or white/purple flowers; blooms late; velvety leaves
Salvia microphylla	Littleleaf or baby sage	2-3’	So Cool Blue Angel Wings Hot Lips	Orange-red or pink or light blue flowers; many hybrids
Salvia oxyphora	Bolivian sage	3-5’		Fuzzy pink/fuschia flowers
Salvia patens	Gentian sage	2-3’	Cambridge blue	2-lipped light blue flowers
Salvia sclarea	Clary Sage	3-4’		Biennial; reseeds; showy white or lilac/pink papery bracts
Salvia splendens	Scarlet sage	1-2'	Grandstand series Salsa series Mohave series Vista series Yvonnes Giant	Many flower colors and bicolors; rabbits will eat young plants
Salvia virdis	Clary or painted sage	1-3'	Pink sundae Oxford blue Blue Denim	Pink or blue showy bracts

Salvia Big Blue — Salvia 'Big Blue' (*Salvia longispicata × Salvia farinacea*)

Salvia Amistad — *Anise-scented sage (Salvia gauranitica* 'Amistad')

Salvia Phyllis Fancy — Mexican bush sage (*Salvia leucantha × S. chiapensis '*Phyllis Fancy')

More Information

References

Authors:

Cynthia Haynes

Last reviewed:

July 2025