Yearly Growth of Salvias and Sages
In the vibrant world of gardening, annual salvias are a delightful addition for home landscapes, particularly for those seeking to attract a flurry of pollinators. These hardy plants, hailing from various corners of the globe, are known for their striking flowers and aromatic foliage that deters deer and rabbits.
One of the standout annual salvia species is Salvia coccinea, also known as Texas sage. This plant grows about 30 inches tall and boasts deep red tubular flowers with dark green heart-shaped leaves. It is highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and continues to bloom until frost with some deadheading.
Another popular choice is Salvia splendens, which is commonly available in nurseries. This species offers bright spikes of red, blue, purple, and white flowers and grows about a foot tall and wide. It too draws bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and flowers until frost with deadheading.
In general, annual salvias are excellent for sunny beds and containers, producing large, tubular, two-lipped flowers in various shades like white, pink, peach, red, burgundy, blue, purple, and bicolors. They function as magnets for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Some tall species of annual salvia are also popular as cut flowers. For instance, Salvia farinacea, or Mealycup sage, offers cultivars like Evolution, Fairy Queen, Strata, and Victoria Blue, producing blue, purple, or white flowers.
Key growing tips for annual salvias include planting them in full sun after frost danger passes, pinching tall seedlings to promote branching and more blooms, providing regular water and fertilizer, especially in containers, and deadheading spent flowers to spur continuous blooming and prevent reseeding.
While Salvia coccinea and Salvia splendens are often the focus of search results, other salvias such as Salvia nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’ (a perennial) are highlighted in trials for garden performance but may be less suited as annuals.
For those seeking a wider variety of flower colours and habits, perennial salvias are popular US landscape plants. However, annual salvias offer a unique charm, with hybrids like those with S. longispicata (Rockin' series, Mystic spires, Big Blue, etc.) being popular cultivars.
Some tall annual salvia species, such as Salvia gauranitica, or Anise-scented sage, can even reach heights of 2-5 feet tall. This species has cultivars like Amante, Amistad, Bodacious Blue, or pink flowers, sometimes with black stems.
Annual salvia flowers are generally larger than perennial species and attract a multitude of pollinators. Leaves of annual salvias can be glossy or fuzzy and have a strong aroma, which deters deer and rabbits.
In conclusion, for attracting pollinators in US home gardens, Salvia coccinea and Salvia splendens stand out as the best annuals due to their continuous flowering, heat and drought tolerance, and strong appeal to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. By following some simple growing tips, these vibrant plants can bring a burst of colour and life to any garden.
- Annual salvias, such as Salvia coccinea (Texas sage) and Salvia splendens, are popular choices for home landscapes due to their vibrant flowers and ability to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
- These plants, like Salvia coccinea with its deep red tubular flowers and Salvia splendens with its bright spikes of various colors, thrive in sunny beds and containers.
- In addition to annual salvias, perennial salvias are also favored for their wide variety of flower colors and habits, although they may not be ideal for those who prefer an annual gardening lifestyle.
- Annuals like Salvia gauranitica (Anise-scented sage) can grow tall, reaching heights of 2-5 feet, and offer a unique charm with cultivars like Amante, Amistad, Bodacious Blue, or pink flowers, sometimes with black stems.
- By following growing tips like planting in full sun after frost danger passes, pinching tall seedlings, providing regular water and fertilizer, and deadheading spent flowers, home gardeners can enjoy the colorful and lively blooms of annual salvias year after year.
