Pollinator-Friendly Salvia, a Beautiful Addition to Your Garden and Kitchen.
Salvia is a star when it comes to attracting pollinators and is more than just a “pretty face.” A member of the mint family, some varieties of saliva are edible with a range of pleasant scents and flavors from anise to pineapple. In fact, Salvia Hispanica or Chia, produces the chia seeds that are so popular in health foods today. Among their many virtues, chia seeds boast very high levels of antioxidants, omega 3 fatty acids and are a quality source of fiber and protein.
Not all salvias are edible, so you will want to be careful of which one you choose to add to your salad or seasonings. Edible varieties include Salvia officinalis ( common sage), Salvia apiana ( white sage), Salvia columbariae ( chia sage), Salvia elegans (pineapple sage), Salvia dorisiana (fruity sage), Salvia fruticosa (Greek Sage), Salvia gesneriiflora (Tequilla sage), Salvia hispanica, Salvia lanceolata (rocky mountain sage), Salvia melissodora (grape scented sage), Salvia microphylla (baby sage), Salvia miltiorrhiza (red or Chinese sage).
A majority of the annual and ornamental salvias are not edible and some are actually slightly poisonous to humans. Non-edible salvias include Salvia azurea (azure sage), Salvia dorrii (purple sage), Salvia splendens (scarlet sage), Salvia nemerosa (woodland sage), and Salvia divinorum.
When growing and caring for your salvia, keep in mind that not all varieties are hardy in all regions; some are best treated as annuals, but perennial varieties are also available.
Most salvia will be happiest in a sunny spot with good drainage. While they don’t need rich soil, they must have good drainage. If your soil is heavy, plant “proud”, (slightly higher than the surrounding grade). In pots, a mixture of ordinary garden soil mixed with perlite allows water to drain rapidly.
Salvia is drought tolerant and only requires a light application of a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring.
Deadheading (pruning spent blooms) is important to encourage repeat blooming. However, if you are looking to harvest seed, leave a few flower heads to dry naturally on the plant. Collect the seedpods and shake out into a bag or jar. Learn how to properly prune your salvia here.
No serious disease or pest problems affect salvia plants. Deer and rabbits also tend to steer clear from salvias and other sages, as they don’t like plants with a strong scent.
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