Drought resistant plants

[Wanda P]

Salvia

Salvia

Salvia selections

Rate and Comment

---

There are hundreds of different types of salvias, commonly called sage, but they all tend to share beautiful, tall flower spikes and attractive,
often gray-green leaves. Countless sages (including the herb used in
cooking) are available to decorate ornamental gardens, and new
selections appear annually. They are valued for their very long season
of bloom, right up until frost. Not all not hardy in cold climates, but
they are easy to grow as annuals. On square stems, clothed with
often-aromatic leaves, sages carry dense or loose spires of tubular
flowers in bright blues, violets, yellow, pinks, and red that mix well
with other perennials in beds and borders. Provide full sun or very
light shade, in well-drained average soil.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

3-10

Plant Type:

Annual, Perennial

Plant Height:

1-8 feet tall, depending on variety

Plant Width:

8-36 inches wide, depending on variety

Flower Color:

Pink, blue, violet, red, yellow flowers, depending on variety; gray/silver leaves, depending on variety

Bloom Time:

Blooms early summer through fall, depending on variety

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fragrant, Fall Color, Cut Flowers, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Butterflies, Drought Tolerant, Deer
Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

---

Autumn sage

(Salvia greggii) is shrubby at the base, with aromatic foliage all along the stems. Its
loose spires of cherry red flowers are carried on 2- to 3-foot stems in
late summer and fall. Zones 7-9.
view >

Black and Blue blue anise sage

(Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue') blooms in late summer and fall with very deep blue
flowers, with almost black calyces. The flowers are carried in spikes
on shrubby stems that may reach 8 feet tall. Zones 7-10, though it's
often treated as an annual.
view >

Blue sage

(Salvia azurea) grows to 5 feet tall and bears wonderful spikes of sky-blue flowers in late summer and fall. Zones 5-9
view >

Giant purple sage

(Salvia pachyphylla) is exceedingly tough and bears spikes of purple flowers throughout the summer. It can reach 4 feet tall. Zones 5-9
view >

May Night hybrid sage

(Salvia x sylvestris 'May Night') carries dense spikes of large, two-lipped, deep indigo
blue flowers on 1 1/2- to 2-foot stems. Increase by division as this is
a sterile hybrid. Zones 5-9
view >

Mealycup sage

(Salvia farinacea) is usually treated as an annual in northern climates. It is upright and
bushy, its 2-foot stems coated with a white meal. Dense spikes of blue
or white flowers bloom from summer into fall. Zones 8-11
view >

Mexican bush sage

(Salvia leucantha) bears fuzzy purple flowers in late summer and fall. It grows 3 feet
tall and is hardy in Zones 8-10. It's often grown as an annual in
cold-winter climates.
view >

Plumosa sage

(Salvia nemorosa 'Plumosa') bears dense spikes of deep purple blooms throughout the summer. It grows 18 inches tall. Zones 3-8
view >

Garden Plans

---

Cotswold Charm Cottage Garden Plan
Mailbox Garden
Foolproof Foundation Garden Plan
Summerlong Color Garden Plan
Fragrant Garden 2
Long-Blooming Rose and Perennial Garden Plan
Colorful Front Entry Garden Plan
Summer-Blooming Front Yard Cottage Garden Plan
Beginner's Rose Garden
Side-Yard Cottage Garden Plan
Front Walk Garden Plan
Raised Beds Garden Plan

Plant It With

---

Golden marguerite

The bright yellow daisy flowers of golden Marguerite make a fine contrast with blue hybrid sage in color and form in sunny gardens.

Shasta daisy

In sunny borders, the sparkling white daisies of 'Alaska' combine well with mealy cup sage.

Daylily

Blooming at the same time, daylily trumpet flowers and strap-shaped foliage play off well against blue hybrid sage.

Aster

In fall, New England asters provide an interesting combination with Mexican bush sage. They enjoy similar conditions.

Propagation

---

Seed
Division
Stem Cuttings

Poppy Mellow
Poppy mallow
Callirhoe selections
Rate and Comment
Poppy mallow

A perfect meadow or cottage flower, poppy mallow bears neon magenta blooms from late spring through summer and into fall. Its long taproot makes it difficult to transplant once established, but gives the plant excellent drought tolerance. It can self-seed in the garden.

Light:
Sun
Zones:
4-8
Plant Type:
Perennial
Plant Height:
6-36 inches tall
Plant Width:
1-3 feet wide
Landscape Uses:
Containers, Beds & Borders, Groundcover
Special Features:
Flowers, Drought Tolerant

Top Varieties
Purple poppy mallow
(Callirhoe involucrata) forms a spreading mat that can reach 3 feet wide, but remains under a foot in height. It is constantly in bloom from late spring onward, and makes a stunning groundcover on a dry, sunny slope.
view >
White poppy mallow
(Callirhoe alcaeoides 'Logan Calhoun') is a spreading plant with pure white flowers. It grows 6 inches tall, 2 feet wide, and is hardy in Zones 4-9.
view >
Garden Plans
Cotswold Charm Cottage Garden Plan
Plant It With
Verbena

The spreading mounds of perennial verbenas intertwine with poppy mallow. Its pink or purple blooms coordinate well with the electric shade of poppy mallow.
Veronica

The blue, pink or white spires of spike speedwell rise above the mats of spreading purple poppy mallow foliage.
Coneflower

The rosy lavender shades of purple coneflower team well with poppy mallow. Like poppy mallow, it tolerates dry conditions.
Propagation
Seed