The All Things Plants Top 25 Salvias and Agastaches

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Posted by @dave on
Let's open Salvias and Agastaches week with a look at the most popular plants in the database. 'Black and Blue', 'Golden Jubilee', and 'Hot Lips' top the list, of course.

Photo by Onewish1
#1: Anise-scented Sage (Salvia coerulea 'Black and Blue')

@Newyorkrita says, "Not perennial here in my garden on the north shore Long Island, New York in zone 6/7. It is such a stunning flower with the contrast in the blue flowers that I buy it new and plant it each spring. Very attractive to hummingbirds."

@Ispahan added, "One of my favorite salvias for both general garden beauty and attracting hummingbirds. Very eye-catching and will sometimes overwinter in the Chicago area. A favorite!"
Photo by duane456
#2: Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum 'Golden Jubilee')

@Skiekitty says, "Bought this plant about 5 years ago and planted it in an area that gets morning/noon sun. It was an absolutely beautiful golden color the first year. The following year, and every year thereafter, the leaves were the dark color seen in my photos. Not at all golden. Blooms the same color as always, however. Tolerates poor soil and my zone 5 winter well."
Photo by duane456
#3: Blackcurrant Sage (Salvia x jamensis 'Hot Lips')

@bonitin says, "This is an amazing plant. When I bought it the flowers were bicolor: red and white. The same plant later on produced entirely white flowers, and now the first blooms in late May-June are entirely red. It proved to be very tough too, having gone through a very severe winter with long periods of hard frosts without damage. It is very drought resistant too."
Photo by dave
#4: Sage (Salvia 'Indigo Spires')

@Marilyn says, "Love this Salvia! I planted it one year in the ground, but I don't really have the space for it. I might plant it in an extra large container next year as it isn't hardy where I live.

It's really worth growing!

I also noticed that as the season progressed into the cooler fall days, the color of the flowers became more beautiful, richer, and darker."
Photo by frostweed
#5: Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans)

@RickCorey says, "Leaves fragrant, used to make tea or jelly. Edible flowers attract bees & butterflies.
Semi-erect growth habit. Bag seed heads to collect seed. Seed doesn't store well.
Provenance: Mexico. Older name: S. rutilans. Family: Lamiaceae.
Grows as annual in Zone 6.
Other propagation method: softwood cuttings.
Height 36" to 48", prefers full sun.
Spacing: 24" to 36""
Photo by Trish
#6: Culinary Sage (Salvia officinalis)

@Mindy03 says, "Honey bees get nectar and pollen from this plant."

@gardengus added, "This semi-woody subshrub is an easy-to-grow evergreen perennial herb that is used in many recipes.
It is also added to some medicinal teas.
It is easy to dry and store for winter use. Simply pick the leaves or cut whole branch tips and hang to dry.
For tea, just hand crush the dry leaves and add a small amount to loose-leaf teas before steeping. (This is a strong herb and a little will add much flavor.)
For seasoning in cooking, remove stems and crush leaves in a mortar and pestle. This is called ''rubbed sage.'' Leaves must be completely dry to use this method.

I use most of my sage to season fresh sausage and homemade bread stuffing."
Photo by dirtdorphins
#7: Sage (Salvia x sylvestris 'Mainacht')

@SongofJoy says, "Selected as the 1997 Perennial Plant of the Year. Outstanding for its compact growth habit, profuse deep purple flower spikes and vigorous re-blooming nature. “May Night” thrives in hot, sunny planting sites. The first flush of flowers comes in late spring. Deadheading and a little extra watering assures heavy re-blooming."
Photo by rvird01
#8: Salvia (Salvia 'Wendy's Wish')

@Danita says, "'Wendy's Wish' is a wonderful hybrid Salvia with spires of bright fuchsia colored flowers with brownish-pink calyces that was found in Wendy Smith's garden in Australia. The leaves are dark green and glossy. It is a sterile, interspecific cross so it has a very long bloom period and doesn't set seed. This plant is patented and part of the proceeds go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, therefore the name 'Wendy's Wish'. It can take Sun to Part Shade (prefers part sun-part shade in the south.) It has performed very well for me in a container and I love the flowers. It is attractive to hummingbirds. I have been overwintering it on a porch that gets close to freezing but not below and it doesn't go dormant. I haven't tried overwintering it outside yet.

My Climate: USDA Zone 7b, AHS Heat Zone 7/8, Humid"
Photo by larryr
#9: Anise Hyssop (Agastache 'Blue Fortune')

@Newyorkrita says, "In my opinion the best of the blue Hyssops. Blooms on mine were always covered in yellow swallowtail butterflies. Long spikes of masses of tiny blue flowers appear to be one giant fuzzy bloom. Starts blooming in July. Unfortunately the one large plant I had for many years died out over one winter and I have never gotten around to replacing it."
Photo by bonitin
#10: Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

@CarolineScott says, "Clary Sage has colored bracts.
The color is not actually flowers."

@Bonehead added, "This is an invasive plant in Washington. It spreads by seed, so it would be a good idea to deadhead before the seeds form if it is a problem in your locale. I would like to have one in my herb garden for medicinal purposes, and thus far my county has not had a serious infestation so I believe I can manage this cautiously."
Photo by vic
  • Uploaded by vic
#11: Blue Sage (Salvia azurea)

@Danita says, "Salvia azurea is a lovely, easy-to-grow plant here. It blooms in late summer and fall with long wispy stems topped with sky blue flowers. The hummingbirds and butterflies use this plant some, but it's more of a bee plant. It's been very drought tolerant and has survived severe drought and watering bans.

My Climate: USDA Zone 7b, AHS Heat Zone 7/8, Humid"
Photo by wildflowers
#12: Hummingbird Sage (Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph')

@sallyg says, "I've had this for years. It's a lovely coral color. They self sow, and they grow easily, although they sprout a bit later than you might expect. Once blooming, they go nonstop until frost."

@Marilyn added, "One of my favorite Salvias! I love it! It's a beautiful Salvia!

I love the color of the flowers, that it's long blooming, that it attracts hummers, butterflies, and bees, and that it's easy to care for during the season. I rarely see seedlings from it, but maybe I disturb the soil too soon.

I try to order at least one every year."
Photo by frostweed
#13: Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)

@plantladylin says, "I received seeds of this plant from a friend and love that it reseeds itself in my garden. It blooms from early summer until fall in a full sun location."
Photo by Calif_Sue
#14: Hummingbird Sage (Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red')

@Marilyn says, "This is my Mom's favorite, as well as mine. She always wants a container of 'Lady in Red' for Mother's Day from me every year. She and I love it, and the many hummingbirds that visit it love it too!

It self sows, has many blooming flowers, is a beautiful color of red, and is easy to maintain.

I plant many pots of it into containers, and the ones in the ground self sow from the previous year and I'll get more plants! Sometimes, it self sows from one container into another container and the next year, I'll get a new free plant!"
Photo by gardengus
#15: Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

@SongofJoy says, "The flowers are cross-pollinated primarily by honeybees, bumblebees, digger bees (Melissodes spp.), leaf-cutting bees (Megachile spp.), Halictid bees (Lasioglossum spp., etc.), and Masked bees (Hylaeus spp.) seeking nectar or pollen. The flowers are also visited by an oligolectic bee, Doufourea monardae. Other occasional floral visitors are Syrphid flies, bee flies, and various butterflies, skippers, and moths.

Mammalian herbivores normally avoid consumption of this plant as the anise scent of the foliage is repugnant to them. The anise scent may also deter some leaf-chewing insect species."
Photo by wcgypsy
#16: Giant Hyssop (Agastache pallida 'Tutti Frutti')

@Newyorkrita says, "I tried Tutt-Frutti multiple times but it would never overwinter in my garden. Lovely plant.

Located on the north shore of Nassau County Long Island, NY zone 6/7, where it is humid in the summer."

@Marilyn added, "I've planted Agastache 'Tutti Frutti' before, but sometimes it doesn't come back the following spring. I always try to make sure the soil has excellent drainage, but it could be that we get too cold for it in the winters. I'm not sure whether it's hardy to zone 6a, 6b, or 7a. I've gone through a lot of websites where I've seen it listed as one of the three.

It could very well be that it's hardy to 6b, but it any case, it deserves to be grown in the garden for beauty, scent, long blooming, low maintenance, and especially for hummers, butterflies and bees!

One of my favorites!"
Photo by HamiltonSquare
#17: Sage (Salvia sylvestris 'Caradonna')

@BookerC1 says, "Details from plant tag, from Lowes:
"Dig hole 2 times width of pot. Set top of root ball even with ground level. Combine planting mix and soil. Fill to ground level and tamp. Form water basin; water to settle soil. Add layer of mulch. Check often for water needs until established. Fertilize spring and summer, or before new growth begins. Cut back after flowering.""
Photo by frostweed
#18: Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea)

@JonnaSudenius says, "Grown as an annual in zone 6"
Photo by wildflowers
#19: Anise Hyssop (Agastache aurantiaca 'Apricot Sprite')

@wildflowers says, "Although the plant was stated to grow to 2 feet tall, mine grew over three feet tall and wide its first year... I guess things really do grow bigger in Tx."

@Onewish1 added, "One of my favorite Agastaches! Easy to grow from seed. Sometimes I get lucky and it will return the next year but most of the time I end up with an annual. I have had success overwintering it inside the house for winter. It's a compact beauty!!!"
Photo by bonitin
#20: Bog Sage (Salvia uliginosa)

@chelle says, "The foliage of this plant emits a rather unpleasant odor, but I find it to be a completely undemanding resident of my rather wild, moist and sunny seasonal stream bed. The blooms are dainty and a wonderfully pleasing clear, bright blue."
Photo by Marilyn
#21: Threadleaf Giant Hyssop (Agastache rupestris)

@SongofJoy says, "This beautiful Agastache is a xeric plant that likes a lean, well drained soil along with lots of summer heat. The natural range is from southeastern New Mexico to central and south-central Arizona and into northern Chihuahua, Mexico."

@SongofJoy added, "For most of the summer, Agastache ruprestris is covered in brilliantly-colored flowers that attract hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. And Sunset hyssop fills the air with a great aroma similar to root beer or licorice.

You can use sunset hyssop leaves to make tea."
Photo by kosk0025
#22: Salvia (Salvia 'Amistad')

@Marilyn says, "Salvia 'Amistad' is a very new Salvia. The flowers are purple and it is a hybrid. They look like the shape of Salvia 'Black and Blue'. This Salvia has generated a great deal of excitement in the Salvia world. It's a hummingbird magnet!

Rolando Uria of the University of Buenos Aries discovered this wonderful Salvia in 2005 at a plant show in Argentina and wanted to share it with everybody. Amistad is Spanish for friendship, hence the common name of Friendship Salvia.

Rolando Uria stated he didn't want this Salvia patented, intending for the plant to be freely distributed around the world and he gave a cutting to a grower in the US when the grower was in Argentina, but after the cutting came to the US, it unfortunately got into the hands of a US company that is going to have it patented."
Photo by Calif_Sue
#23: Mexican Sage (Salvia mexicana 'Limelight')

@RickCorey says, "According to Richard F. Dufresne, Salvia mexicana `Limelight’ may grow to 4 feet in full sun, with 18" spikes. He gives the hardiness zone as "8 (7?)"."

@Bubbles added, "This has been a reliable, pest-free perennial with low water requirements. I have it growing in full sun, where it is also open to the elements of wind and cold. It freezes to the ground each winter and comes back in late February. It will grow to about six feet tall and six feet wide by late summer in my garden. The long bloom spikes consist of gorgeous electric blue flowers emerging from lime green calyxes. It will bloom from late summer to the first hard freeze. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and neighbors (for those showy blooms).

This salvia was discovered growing in Quertaro, Mexico by Robert Ornduff in 1978. It is also known as Lolly Jackson salvia as it supposedly was found growing in her front yard garden."
Photo by wcgypsy
#24: Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha)

@Lavanda says, "I have raised this lovely plant on and off for years. In my borderline zone 7b/8a, it acts as a half-hardy perennial, lasting for a few years (not more than three seasons), until a colder than normal winter takes it out for good. I then replace them.

They drive hummingbirds crazy with joy.

I like to use them to surround the birdbath."
Photo by clintbrown
#25: Scarlet Sage (Salvia 'Dancing Flames')

@Marilyn says, "I've planted Salvia 'Dancing Flames' (in a container) before, but this year it looked even better!

I always had it planted with other plants and this year was no exception. I had planted two different Pentas and Salvia 'Black and Blue'. As I look at one of the photos I had posted, I remember now that I had added compost in addition to the potting soil. That might be the key for it looking better this year. Of course, I had fertilized it and kept up on the watering.

Next year I decided to plant it in container by itself, since it looks so great. It will grow and bloom better without other plants competing with it."

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Blue Ensign salvia ! by Sheridragonfly Sep 21, 2014 4:04 PM 0
Salvia nemorosa Marcus™ by SunnyBorders Sep 21, 2014 11:46 AM 1
Untitled by donnabking Sep 20, 2014 1:01 PM 0
Agastache 'Black Adder' by Gardadore Sep 20, 2014 11:38 AM 0
Wrong Pic of Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans) by Marilyn Sep 20, 2014 8:48 AM 2
culinary sage/medicinal tea by kylaluaz Sep 19, 2014 6:18 PM 0

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