Salvia Species at MOSI Outside

There's no doubt that salvias are one of our favorite nectar plants at MOSI Outside. Salvias, commonly called sages, are a genus of more than 1000 plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae). This widespread and enormous genus of plants offers so many options to butterfly gardeners, and the never-ending supply of new hybrids and cultivars mean that there's always something new to add to your flower garden.

Garden sage (Salvia officinalis) is grown regularly for culinary use, but many salvias have fragrant foliage that can be added to soups, stews, or even teas. (Note that not all salvias are edible - one species, Salvia divinorum, is known to have hallucinogenic effects.)

Here are some of the salvia species we grow regularly at MOSI Outside, including those we plant in our cultivated gardens and those that thrive on their own in the Backwoods Nature Preserve.

Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea). Also called scarlet sage, this salvia is native to the southeastern U.S. and has become very popular in home gardens across the country. We use S. coccinea widely in our exhibits and cultivated gardens, taking advantage of the red, white, and pink varieties now available. (NATIVE)

Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Pink'

Mexican Sage (Salvia leucantha). This tough cool-season bloomer is native to Central America and Mexico but well-suited to Florida. Fuzzy purple blooms attract butterflies (and hummingbirds!) from fall until a hard freeze, or all winter long in milder years.

Salvia leucantha with Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea). Salvia farinacea is one of our favorites for use in butterfly gardens, especially in containers. It doesn't tolerate drought well, but with regular deadheading it produces multitudes of small flowers that butterflies adore. In this same family you'll find Salvia 'Mystic Spires' (Salvia longispicata x farinacea), which is much taller and hardier and well-suited to any sunny space.

Salvia farinacea

Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata). Spring-blooming Salvia lyrata is a native Florida wildflower that can often be found on the edges of woods and wetlands. Forming a low carpet of purple and green foliage, Lyre-Leaved Sage produces lovely pale purple flowers each spring. Look for S. lyrata at native plant nurseries in the late winter and early spring months. (NATIVE)

Salvia lyrata

Black and Blue Sage (Salvia guaranitica). A true blue flower can be hard to find, but S. guaranitica 'Black and Blue' has it! The blue-black calyx gives way to bright blue blooms. This species is native to South America and doesn't like frost or freezes, so protect it in the winter or plan to plant again in the spring.

Salvia guaranitica 'Black and Blue'

Wendy's Wish Salvia (Salvia x 'Wendy's Wish'). Wendy's Wish is an "accidental" hybrid, said to be discovered in the garden of Wendy Smith, a salvia hobbyist, in Victoria, Australia in 2005. Its exact parentage is unknown but Salvia buchananii, S. chiapensis, and Salvia `Purple Majesty' were all growing nearby and may be parent species for this hybrid. Wendy's Wish likes lots of water, but rewards growers with big magenta blooms.

Salvia x 'Wendy's Wish'

Pineapple Sage (Salvia elegans). Another popular species for culinary use, Pineapple Sage has foliage that smells just like sweet pineapple when crushed. This is a short day plant, meaning it flowers only when days are shorter than nights. This makes it a great cool-season salvia for Florida butterflies. Pineapple sage doesn't grow well from seed - instead, it spreads by stem growth along the ground, making it easy to cultivate by stem cutting. Protect from frost in cooler climates.

Salvia elegans

What's In a Name? The word salvia means healing or saving (like the word "salve"). Many salvia species have been considered to have medicinal properties by various cultures around the world.