Saucy Salvias in Central Coast Gardens

July 5, 2003

By Lee Oliphant, Master Gardener

Most Central Coast gardeners that enjoy drought-tolerant and naturalized plants, have, at one time or another, incorporated Salvias (commonly known as sage) among their plantings. There are over 750 types of annuals, perennials, and shrubs in the Salvia plant group. Sage can be cultivated for their ornamental, culinary, and medicinal values. The plants are scented, colorful, tough and versatile. They are prolific, thriving in every climate, from deserts and prairies to coastal environments. While many types of Salvia evolved around the Mediterranean, some can also be traced to the arid regions of Europe, the Southwest, and Mexico. Their spiky nectar-rich blooms come in colors from the red flowers on ascending stalks above pineapple-scented leaves (Salvia elegans ŒScarlet Pineapple) to billows of sky blue flowers floating above gray-green leaves of the prairie sage (S. azurea grandiflora). The brilliant, nectar-filled blossoms of sage will attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and pollinating bees to your garden.

Mexican sage, S. leucantha, can grow to 4-5 feet tall with long, vivid, purple spikes and is a common landscape plant in our area. Its young flowers are dried for potpourri or arrangements. More exotic types of sage are used in perennial gardens and in mixed shrub plantings where they are valued for their long blooming season. Salvias can be grown in containers or massed around, or beneath, larger shrubs. In natural gardens, Salvias blend well with plants such as Diplacus (Monkey flower), Romneya coulteri (Matilija poppy), the California poppy, and the Eriogonum species. Salvia officinalis ŒBerggarten is a pungent, musky herb and the choice of professionals for culinary use. It can grow to about 2 feet tall, has round, grayish leaves, and, unlike the ornamental sages, rarely blooms. One ŒBerggarten will provide a family with fresh sage throughout the year, or the leaves can be dried and stored.

Salvias are fast-growing and require little except for sun and well-drained soil.

They adapt to drought conditions in the native environment by shedding some of their leaves and becoming dormant. When moisture arrives, they return to their former glory.

After flowering, the upper stems of blooming plants will become woody. Most Salvias will benefit from hard pruning after their flowering cycle is complete. This will help the plant to remain healthy and encourage flowering the following year.

Garden sage used for cooking can be easily grown from seed but the colorful sage varieties don’t always come true from seed. The common Mexican and pineapple sages are best grown from divisions.

There are choices of Salvias that fill the requirements of every garden. Explore local nurseries and talk to local gardeners for suggestions that will help you select appropriate cultivars of this nearly trouble-free plant.

University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers can provide additional gardening information upon request .Call the San Luis Obispo office at 781-5939 on Mondays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 PM. You may also call the Paso Robles office at 237-3100 on Wednesdays from 9 AM to 12 PM. The San Luis Obispo Master Gardeners website is at http://groups.ucanr.org/slomg/. Questions can be e-mailed to: mgsanluisobispo@ucdavis.edu.