Long-lived border salvias

RHS Genus Guide

Flowering throughout summer and into autumn, these perennials provide pops of colour in sunny borders. Long-lived border salvias come back year after year, they are easy to grow and are a favourite of bees.

Botanical name: Salvia

RHS / Carol Sheppard

Appearance

Long-lived border salvias are either shrubs, like Salvia microphylla, or herbaceous perennials, like Salvia nemorosa. They’re upright plants with flower spikes that rise above mounds of foliage.

Preferences

Perennial salvias prefer free-draining soil, but can be worth trying on heavier soil in a sunny location.

Dislikes

Cold, drying winds can damage soft foliage in early spring. They dislike very wet soil and all but Salvia glutinosa dislike shade.

Did you know?

These salvias respond well to regular deadheading, producing a succession of flowers over several weeks.

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RHS Recommended

Long-lived border salvias

bog sage

Salvia uliginosa

bog sage

Height: 1–1.5 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

whorled clary 'Purple Rain'

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'

whorled clary 'Purple Rain'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Balkan clary [Sensation Rose]

Salvia nemorosa Sensation Rose (Sensation Series)

Balkan clary [Sensation Rose]

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

Balkan clary 'Caradonna'

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Balkan clary 'Caradonna'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Salvia 'Blue Note'^PBR

sage 'Blue Note'

Height: 0.1–0.5 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

wood sage 'Mainacht'

Salvia × sylvestris 'Mainacht'

wood sage 'Mainacht'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

sage 'Hot Lips'

Salvia 'Hot Lips'

sage 'Hot Lips'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

clary 'Pink Delight'

Salvia pratensis 'Pink Delight'^PBR

clary 'Pink Delight'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

clary 'Indigo'

Salvia pratensis 'Indigo'

clary 'Indigo'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

baby sage 'Cerro Potosi'

Salvia microphylla 'Cerro Potosí'

baby sage 'Cerro Potosi'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

sage 'Amethyst Lips'

Salvia Amethyst Lips ('Dyspurp')

sage 'Amethyst Lips'

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

sticky clary

Salvia glutinosa

sticky clary

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

lavender-leaved sage

Salvia lavandulifolia

lavender-leaved sage

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.5–1 metres

perovskia [Silvery Blue]

Salvia yangii Silvery Blue ('Lissvery'^PBR) (Pe)

perovskia [Silvery Blue]

Height: 0.5–1 metres
Width: 0.1–0.5 metres

Award of Garden Merit

Plants for pollinators

See all Long-lived border salvias