Salvia, also known as sage, are flowering plants in the mint family, notable for their upright spikes of tubular, two-lipped flowers in various colors like red, purple, blue, and white. These plants, which include annuals, perennials, and woody subshrubs, typically have square, angled stems, velvety, aromatic leaves, and prefer full sun and well-draining soil. They are popular as ornamental plants, attracting pollinators like bees, and are grown ornamentally or for culinary use.

Plant Characteristics

Stems and Leaves: Salvias have square stems, a characteristic of the mint family, and often feature velvety, aromatic leaves that can be toothed or pinnately divided.

Flowers: Flowers are tubular and emerge from dense spikes or racemes. They have a distinctive two-lipped structure, with an upper lip that is usually straight and a lower lip that is shorter.

Colors: The flowers come in a wide array of colors, including vibrant reds, purples, blues, whites, and yellows.

Variety: The genus includes annuals and perennials, some hardy and others tender, as well as woody subshrubs.