The wonderful world of the Salvia … from the very blousy to the to the very subtle, this genus has everything.

It is a very large genus that has several hundred species of annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials and shrubs.

We grow a wide range of Salvias, giving us plenty of colour from early summer, right through until the end of autumn. They are very easy to propagate from softwood or semi ripe cuttings or from seed, some you can also divide. The majority of Salvia’s like to be in full sun or partial shade in a moist but, well-drained soil.

With hundreds to choose from, there is something for everyone and many with aromatic leaves. Here are a few of what we grow.

Salvia involucrata ‘Bethellii’– I love this one. Reaching up to six feet in height and with pink flowers from summer, right through until the autumn, it is a great Salvia that will give you height and colour in your border. For us, this one does over-winter in the garden.

Salvia confertiflora- Another wonderful Salvia that can also reach six ft in height, it has wonderful rusty-red flowers from mid summer, right through until the autumn. We over-winter ours in the greenhouse.

Salvia splendens ‘Van-Houttei’– A tender one that will need winter protection. Beautiful scarlet red flowers from late summer, through to the autumn. This Salvia ticks all the boxes for me.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Blue Enigma’- Can reach six ft in height, deep blue flowers from mid summer through to the autumn … this one for us, does over winter-outside.

Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’– Another tall Salvia, this one we do over winter in the glasshouse. Beautiful dark blue flowers from summer, through to the autumn.

Salvia microphylla var. neurepia– A small bushy sub shrub that has pink flowers summer/autumn. This one over-winters in the garden.

Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’– A tender perennial that we treat as an annual. This one we grow from seed, reaching a height of 1.5 ft with deep blue flowers from early summer to the autumn.

Salvia microphylla– A small bushy sub shrub, with red flowers from mid summer through to late autumn, like neurepia; this one over-winters out in the garden.

Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’– The bees love this plant, a must have plant for the garden. Great at the front of any border, it has violet-blue flowers from early summer through to late autumn. Fully hardy.

Salvia viridis– The annual Clary. Very easy to grow, good for cut flowers these have beautiful small flowers enclosed in a showy bract. Vigorous growers, they flower from early summer until the autumn and if left in, they will seed everywhere.

Salvia pratensis ‘Indigo’– An herbaceous perennial that can grow to three ft in height, it has long spikes of violet flowers in the summer. Fully hardy.

Salvia patens ‘Cambridge Blue’– There is also a ‘Oxford Blue’ but we couldn’t grow that one … but saying that, I do actually prefer the ‘Oxford Blue’. Grows up to 1.5 ft in height with pale blue flowers, I would say with this one, is only half hardy.

Salvia officinalis ‘Purpurascens’– Semi-evergreen dwarf shrub, with a pale blue/purple flower in the summer. The foliage is very fragrant, that starts off purple but greens up with age. Fully hardy.

And you can also mix up the different species of Salvias … to good effect.