Gardening Articles
Salvia
by Kit Smith
UCCE Master Gardeners of El Dorado County
for Mountain Democrat 9/18/2024
The color you might be seeing in gardens this late summer may be from the beloved Salvia. It adds so much to our viewing pleasure. No wonder they are one of the most popular garden ornamentals. There are just under 1,000 species, 19 of which have California origins.
Salvia is the largest genus of Lamiaceae, the mint family. Sage is the common name for Salvia. The structure of the flower sets the sage apart from the rest of the mint family.
Salvia comes in all colors and sizes. It can range from an 18-inch groundcover to a five-foot shrub and is evergreen, deciduous, perennial, biennial, or annual. There is a Salvia for everyone’s preference and growing area.
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