HARDY SALVIAS

These popular, high-impact summer flowers come in a wide range of forms and colours and are designer favourites as well as magnets for bees and butterflies

- WORDS BENJAMIN POPE

FACT FILE

What Summer-flowering perennials and sub-shrubs that are hardy in the UK, and commonly known as ornamental sages.

A genus of more than 1,000 species, which also includes tender perennials, biennials and annuals, Salvia is classified within the Lamiaceae family.

Size Varies from around 50cm to 1.5m in height.

Season Flowers summer through to autumn.

Conditions Many of the species come from mountainous regions with dry, free-draining conditions, and require an open sunny site with free-draining soil.

Origins Salvias are found on nearly all continents, but those featured here are from across Europe and parts of Asia, with some species native to Central and South America including Mexico.

Hardiness These are species that are hardy throughout most of the UK with an RHS hardiness rating of RHS H4 to H7, and suitable for gardens in USDA zones 4a to 11.

+Hardiness ratings given where available.

Discover which cultivars have an Award of Garden Merit when trial results are announced in June 2025.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Amethyst’ A larger cultivar with elegant tall stems holding masses of warm, reddish-mauve flowers that contrast nicely with maroon calyces. Flowers repeat throughout summer. Height and spread: 1m x 70cm. RHS H6, USDA 4a-8b†.

Salvia stolonifera

An upright perennial with an open habit and elegant, long, dark stems which produce large deep-orange flowersspaced along the stem to grab attention - from summer to autumn. 80cm x 60cm. RHS H6.

Salvia uliginosa

A tall and upright salvia with white and sky-blue flowers atop lofty, long stems from midsummer to autumn. Appreciates more moisture than other salvia species. 2.1m x 1.6m. RHS H6.

USDA 6a-10b.