types of salvias

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Discovering the wide variety of salvias is a garden adventure in itself. With their vivid blooms, aromatic foliage, and impressive resilience, salvias have become favourites among New Zealand gardeners. As you explore the different types of salvias, you’ll find that some are ideal for attracting pollinators, others perfect for bold displays of colour, and many are remarkably easy to care for. Let’s dive into the world of salvias, from the classic to the contemporary, and help you select the right varieties for your garden sanctuary.

Salvia 'Santa Barbara' shrub in a garden with dark pink flowers.

Salvia Santa Barbara (Mexican Sage)

Salvia 'Santa Barbara' is a compact and colourful perennial that produces masses of attractive flowers over an extended season. Its vibrant blooms bring long lasting colour to garden beds, borders, and containers while attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators. This hardy and easy care plant performs well in many New Zealand climates and is valued for its reliable flowering and tidy growth habit. Salvia 'Santa Barbara' is an excellent choice for gardeners wanting continuous colour with minimal maintenance.

Buy Salvia Santa Barbara (Mexican Sage)

From $30.29

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 1.00 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn

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

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

Salvia Amistad

Salvia Amistad is one of the purple Salvias grown for its rich display of flowers from summer through autumn. It produces long and slender, flower spikes that host masses of showy, purple-blue flowers. The flowers sit neatly above the mid-green foliage as it grows to 1 m tall and the same wide. Salvia Amistad is ideal for herb gardens, mixed plantings, cottage gardens, borders, or container growing. A mass planting really suits this plant and gives a very rewarding display.

Buy Salvia Amistad

From $27.53

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Perennials

Height: 1.00 m

Spread: 1.00 m

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn

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

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

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You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Plagianthus and Salvia, or related Categories - General Garden Fertiliser, Native Plant Fertiliser, Rose Fertiliser, Vegetable Fertiliser, Grafting and Budding, Rooting Hormone Perennials and Deciduous Trees.

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What Are Salvias?

Salvias, sometimes known as sages, belong to the mint family and offer extraordinary versatility. With more than 900 recognized species worldwide, their range includes perennials, annuals, and shrubs. Salvias thrive in a range of New Zealand conditions, often producing striking spikes of colour for months on end. These plants are ideal for sunny borders, cottage gardens, pollinator patches, or even containers on the patio.

Popular Types of Salvias for New Zealand Gardens

Salvia Amistad

One of the most sought-after modern salvias, Salvia Amistad brings deep purple flower spikes held high above lush green foliage. Flowering from spring until the first frosts, it is known for its long blooming season and appeal to bees and butterflies.

Salvia Caradonna

If you’re after architectural beauty, Salvia Caradonna is renowned for its upright, violet-blue flower spikes and striking dark stems. This perennial creates elegant vertical accents in the garden, blending beautifully with ornamental grasses or other perennials.

Salvia Purple Glow

For a punch of bold violet tones, Salvia Purple Glow (Purple Salvia) stands out with its vibrant, clustered flowers. It’s not just stunning in a mixed border but is also robust and low-maintenance, perfect for busy Kiwi gardeners looking for colour without the fuss.

Salvia Marcus

Compact and ideal for smaller spaces, Salvia Marcus offers dense spikes of deep blue flowers. Its neat growth habit suits borders, pathways, or even patio containers, and its blooms are highly attractive to bees.

Salvia nemorosa

A classic cottage garden type, Salvia nemorosa is cherished for its prolific flowering and drought tolerance. It comes in various shades from blue to purple, making it a flexible choice whether you’re after mass plantings or specimen highlights.

How to Choose the Right Salvia

When selecting the best types of salvias, consider your garden’s sunlight, soil, and style. Salvias generally favour well-draining soil and full sun but tolerate a range of positions. Think about height, colour, and blooming season to design continuous displays through the seasons, and don’t hesitate to mix varieties for year-round interest.

Grow and Enjoy the Diversity of Salvias

Whether your garden calls for bold statement blooms, exquisite pollinator plants, or no-fuss performers, the right types of salvias are waiting for you. Try blending different forms, from the upright elegance of Salvia Caradonna to the vibrant blooms of Salvia Purple Glow (Purple Salvia), and enjoy a living tapestry of colour right outside your door.

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.