If you’re searching for a plant that offers bold colour, long-lasting blooms, and exceptional pollinator appeal, Salvia deserves a prime spot in your garden.
With hundreds of varieties ranging from hardy perennials to tender sub-shrubs, there’s a salvia to suit every space — from traditional cottage borders to sleek Mediterranean schemes.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best salvias for cooler-climate gardens, outline key care tips, and help you choose varieties based on your garden style and climate.
Featured Image: Salvia nemorosa
Why Grow Salvias?
Salvias, also known as sages, belong to the mint family (Lamiaceae). They’re grown for their:
- Long flowering season (often from May to October)
- Drought tolerance once established
- Resistance to pests and deer
- Aromatic foliage
- Heavy value to bees, butterflies and pollinators
Many also pair beautifully with grasses, roses, lavender, and other sun-loving perennials.
Key Types of Salvias for Cooler Climates
1. Hardy Perennial Salvias (e.g., Salvia nemorosa, Salvia x sylvestris)
These are among the toughest, surviving UK winters and returning year after year. They form neat clumps and bloom in shades of purple, blue, and pink.
- Top Varieties:
- Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ — deep violet spikes with dark stems
- Salvia ‘Amethyst’ — softer lilac tones
- Hardiness: Down to -20°C (-4°F) | USDA Zones 5–9
- Best for: Traditional borders, wildlife gardens, and low-maintenance schemes
2. Tender Salvias (e.g., Salvia ‘Amistad’, Salvia leucantha)
These varieties provide lush growth and striking colour, but they aren’t fully hardy in the UK and may need overwintering protection.
- Top Varieties:
- Salvia ‘Amistad’ — tall with rich purple flowers and near-black calyces
- Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage) — velvety white and purple blooms in late summer
- Hardiness: Down to -5°C (23°F) | USDA Zones 9–11
- Best for: Containers, south-facing borders, Mediterranean or exotic garden styles
3. Shrubby Salvias (e.g., Salvia microphylla, Salvia greggii)
Compact, bushy, and semi-evergreen, these are ideal for adding structure and repeated colour flushes throughout summer.
- Top Varieties:
- Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ — distinctive red and white bicolour flowers
- Salvia microphylla ‘Royal Bumble’ — deep red blooms with long-lasting colour
- Hardiness: Often hardy to -10°C (14°F) with good drainage and shelter | USDA Zones 8–10
- Best for: Mixed borders, gravel gardens, front-of-border colour
Growing Conditions
Most salvias share the same basic needs:
- Light: Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun daily)
- Soil: Well-drained soil is essential. Salvias do not tolerate sitting in wet soil over winter.
- Watering: Moderate. Once established, most are drought-tolerant.
- Feeding: Light feeding in spring with a balanced fertiliser encourages strong growth and flowers.
If planting in containers, use a gritty compost mix and ensure good drainage.
How to Care for Salvias
Pruning:
- Hardy herbaceous types (e.g., S. nemorosa) should be cut down to the base in early spring.
- Shrubby/tender types (e.g., S. ‘Hot Lips’) can be pruned lightly in spring once the risk of frost has passed. Avoid cutting into old wood.
Deadheading:
- Removing faded flower spikes encourages more blooms throughout the season.
Overwintering Tender Types:
- In colder areas, lift and pot up tender salvias in autumn or take cuttings.
- Alternatively, grow them in containers and move them to a frost-free greenhouse or porch over winter.
Top Design Tips
- Combine with grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Pennisetum for contrast in texture
- Pair with roses or lavender for a classic, cottage garden look
- Mix with echinacea, rudbeckia, or gaura in pollinator-friendly borders
- Use in pots on sunny patios for colour close to seating areas
Final Thoughts
Whether you have a coastal garden, cottage border, or dry gravel bed, Salvias offer unbeatable colour, movement, and value to pollinators. By choosing the right type for your conditions and giving them plenty of sun and drainage, you’ll enjoy months of vibrant blooms with minimal effort.
So go ahead — find the Salvia that suits your garden style and let it bring buzzing life and bold colour to your outdoor space.
Martin Cole has been an avid plant lover and gardener for more than 20 years and loves to talk and write about gardening. In 2006 he was a finalist in the BBC Gardener of the Year competition. He is a member of the National dahlia Society.
He previously lived in London and Sydney, Australia, where he took a diploma course in Horticultural studies and is now based in North Berwick in Scotland. He founded GardeningStepbyStep.com in 2012. The website is aimed at everybody who loves plants or has been bitten by the gardening bug and wants to know more.
Gardening Step by Step has been cited by Thompson and Morgan, the UK’s largest mail order plant retailer, as a website that publishes expert gardening content.