hardy salvias

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

Looking for colour, versatility, and reliability in your garden? Hardy salvias are a top pick for New Zealand gardeners who want low-maintenance plants that thrive through a range of conditions. If you’re searching for perennials that provide months of brilliant flowers, attract pollinators, tolerate dry spells, and shrug off a bit of neglect, add hardy salvias to your shortlist. With their aromatic foliage, long-lasting blooms, and impressive resilience, these plants deserve a pride of place in your garden design, whether you want to fill a border, create a feature, or refresh your pots.

Salvia 'Amante'

Salvia 'Amante' is a spectacular perennial prized for its vivid magenta-red flowers and dark burgundy stems. Flowering from spring through autumn, it brings bold colour and life to NZ gardens. The aromatic foliage and long-lasting blooms attract bees, butterflies, and birds, making it perfect for pollinator-friendly landscapes. Salvia 'Amante' is hardy, easy to grow, and ideal for adding vibrant beauty to borders, pots, or mixed plantings.

Buy Salvia 'Amante'

From $26.93

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 1.00 m

Spread: 80 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Garden uses: Borders, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical

Salvia corrugata

Salvia corrugata is a stunning perennial shrub known for its deep blue flowers and textured, corrugated green foliage. This hardy ornamental salvia originates from Central America but grows beautifully in New Zealand gardens. Flowering from late summer into autumn, it provides a long lasting burst of colour that attracts bees and butterflies. Salvia corrugata is a great choice for adding vibrant structure and year round interest to NZ landscapes and garden borders.

Buy Salvia corrugata

From $26.93

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 1.20 m

Spread: 1.20 m

Flowering time: Spring, Summer

Garden uses: Living areas, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Tropical

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You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Salvia, or related Categories - Perennials.

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Why Choose Hardy Salvias?

Hardy salvias offer more than good looks—they stand out for their ability to cope with New Zealand’s variable climate. Most cope well with moderate frosts and will flower from spring through autumn, rewarding you with weeks of colour and movement as bees and butterflies flock to the blossoms. The variety within the group is staggering: whether you want rich purples, vivid reds, or soft blues, there’s a hardy salvia for every garden palette. Another bonus? These perennials are largely untroubled by pests and diseases, making them a fuss-free option for both new and experienced gardeners.

Top Hardy Salvia Varieties for NZ Gardens

If you’re ready to explore the wonderful world of hardy salvias, start with these standout varieties:

Salvia corrugata: Known for its striking blue flowers and crinkled foliage, this salvia delivers bold colour and texture, even in exposed positions.
Salvia 'Amante': A recent favourite, ‘Amante’ boasts deep magenta blooms that are real showstoppers through summer and autumn.
Salvia 'Ostfriesland': With spikes of intense violet flowers above neatly compact foliage, ‘Ostfriesland’ is tailor-made for sunny borders and cottage-style planting schemes.
Salvia 'Riverton Red': This variety is celebrated for its bright red flowers that bring drama and energy to planting combinations, particularly when paired with silvers or blues.
Salvia nemorosa: Highly regarded for its hardiness and long flowering season, Salvia nemorosa features upright spires of blue or purple blooms and is both drought and frost-tolerant.

Growing and Caring for Hardy Salvias

Most hardy salvias are happiest in full sun and free-draining soil. Mix in some compost before planting and water deeply until established, then reduce watering—these plants handle dry spells well once their roots are down. Deadhead spent flowers to keep the display going and cut back hard in late winter to encourage fresh new growth. Hardy salvias don’t demand much, but an occasional feed with a balanced fertiliser will boost flowering.

Landscaping Ideas with Hardy Salvias

Incorporate hardy salvias into mixed perennial borders, mass plant them for a swathe of colour, or pair them with ornamental grasses for a relaxed, naturalistic look. Their rich nectar also makes them a top choice for wildlife-friendly gardens. Whether you choose Salvia corrugata, Salvia nemorosa, or one of the newer cultivars, you’ll enjoy garden interest long after other perennials have faded.

Add a bold splash of colour and robust charm to your garden by planting hardy salvias—your garden (and the bees) will thank you.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.