Salvia Plants

Salvia plants are popular landscaping species that share the same family Lamiaceae with mint and sage herb. The genus Salvia comprises more than 900 species, making it the largest genus in the mint family. Consequently, the species of salvia are variant in their growth habit; while some are woody and bushy shrubs, others are annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Perennial salvia varieties are opted for their midsummer flowering.

As we all know, sage (Salvia officinalis) is a flavorful culinary herb used for seasoning meat items. Speaking about salvia effects, the extract of Salvia divinorum is found to be the most potent hallucinogen of all the other plant sources. Likewise, the diversity of salvia plants is so vast that some are used for culinary and medicinal purposes; whereas other species are planted as ornamental plants, especially for their showy flowers.

Salvia Plant Information

Over 500 salvia species are native to South America and Mexico. Commonly known as sage, the stem is angular bearing aromatic foliage with smooth or toothed margin. Some species bear tiny, hair-like trichomes in the stems and leaves, which help in reducing water loss. Based on the cultivar, the inflorescence type may be panicle, raceme or a long and dense spike. As far as flower color is concerned, it is available in shades of white, yellow, pink, red and blue. Salvia plants are excellent for growing as ground covers or in garden beds and borders. When bloom in groups, they are eye-catchers in any garden layout.

Growing Salvia Plants

Being tolerant to drought conditions, salvias are very easy to grow. The most concerning part is selecting the right species suitable for the climatic conditions in your area. Also, as per your approach (therapeutic, culinary or aesthetic) of planting them, choose the correct cultivars. Following are some gardening tips for planting salvia in your flower garden:

• The best way to propagate ornamental salvia plants is by seeds. They are cheap, easy to germinate and transplant in garden soil. You can also grow these plants from cuttings and clippings.
• Salvia plants perform best in full sunlight. If such areas are not available in your flower garden, prepare soil in partial shaded location. Or a simple option is to grow salvia plants in pots or containers.
• The soil should be prepared in such a way that it is moist, well-drained and rich in nutrients. Waterlogged soil and excess humidity are strictly not recommended for maintaining healthy these plants.
• You can plant salvia in spring time. Before plantation, add a heavy dose of farmyard compost and loosen soil up to a depth of about 12 - 15 inch. Make a planting hole larger than the root ball and place salvia plant without damaging the root system.
• Fill hole with garden soil and gently press soil around the main stem. Similarly, grow the remaining salvia plantlets, leaving a space of about 2 - 3 feet between two plants. Water the salvia plants thoroughly after planting.
• Laying a mulch layer and supplementing the soil with organic compost in spring is super helpful. For best results, water them to about 1 inch per week. If required, prune the stems to promote development of new flower buds.

Grow salvia plants and fill your garden with the heady fragrance of salvia leaves. You will also get to enjoy the beautiful flowers for a longer period. Salvia blooms are also excellent for using as cut flowers. What's more they attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds in the garden.