We know sage, Salvia officinalis more from its culinary point of view than we do for the vast amount of beautiful decorative species contained in the genus. Sage is a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is the herb used in cooking and featured in herb gardens. However, there are over a thousand species of Salvia, the vast majority are of great ornamental beauty and highly valued in our gardens. They comprise of annuals, perennials and shrubby types.

Salvia nemerosa is a European native commonly known as Woodland Sage. It is a hardy perennial with upright spikes of dark blue flowers creating vertical interest to your border. It has a longflowering season in our summer gardens and a great plant for encouraging pollinators. S. nemerosa ‘Caradonna’ flowers continuously from May to October. Its black stems are a striking feature holding spires of dark blue flowers. It is clump forming producing greyish green leaves. S. nemerosa ‘Kate Glenn’ is taller growing with a lighter blue colour flower with crimson bracts. It grows from a rosette of bright green foliage to a height of 60cm. These do not need staking. They will benefit from an extended flowering season if deadheaded. Salvia leucantha, the Mexican Bush Sage, is truly beautiful with its lance shaped grey foliage. The woolly small purple and white flowers are unusual. It is tender so cuttings must be taken in autumn. S. involucrata ’Bethellii’ has rich green foliage with dark stems. The tubular flowers are rose-pink, with white tips. The curiosity is the terminal rose pink ‘bobble’ which adds interest.

There are many that are considered shrubby in growth habit and these maintain a presence in the garden through the year. A better description of this type of growth is sub-shrubby, describing something between a shrub and a perennial. Salvia microphylla, which means small-leaved and its many cultivars are shrubby and colourful. S. microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’ is a good example with its dark green leaves and cerise flowers. It grows to 90cm and continues flowering throughout the summer into autumn. S. microphylla ‘Makris’ is a recent introduction with wine red flowers and with dark green leaves. Growing to 60cm, the colour is so rich it resembles red velvet.

Salvia greggii, which is native to the southern United States, was named in 1870 after Joshua Gregg who first collected the plant. He was a naturalist and explorer who worked in Texas. S. greggii ‘Icing Sugar’ has bright pink flowers throughout the summer months and it is a beautiful cool colour for summer displays. Look out for S. greggii ’Mirage Series’ on garden centre benches, they provide a wide range of colours.

Brighten the garden

It was from a cross between Salvia greggii and S. microphylla that S. x jamensis arose to give us many more opportunities to brighten our gardens. It is named after English botanist James Compton. S x jamensis ‘Heatwave Glitter’ is well named as it truly glitters from its light pink flowers.

Very tall and not at all typical is Salvia uliginosa. It is South American and is best planted in the herbaceous border. In my experience it does need staking to keep it upright. It has the most beautiful azure blue flowers. It flowers from mid-summer into late autumn. Uliginosa means of boggy or wet places.

As if Salvia didn’t give enough variety S. dombeyi commonly known as the Giant Bolivian Sage, is a climber and needs support. It is native to the mountains of Bolivia and Peru. It can reach heights of 3m in our gardens but needs support to achieve that.

It has hairy heart shaped green leaves with the most striking flowers of all salvias. They are scarlet red with a hairy appearance extending to 10cm in length. It is truly stunning.

Salvias need good quality soil with grit added to the planting area. They are quick into growth as soon as temperatures pick up. In the initial stages of growth, it is wise to pinch any long shoots just above a pair of leaves. This ensures you have a bushy plant with better flowering.

There is no need to be concerned about dry periods as they are well capable of dealing with that.

Propagation is key to keep your collection healthy. This is easily achieved by taking short sections of the stem just below a pair of leaves. Remove the leaves and insert it in gritty compost in autumn. Always do a few extra to share.

Lawns: Continue to mow at a height and allow grass to provide its own shade to get it through this dry period. Resist the temptation to water.

Perennials: Continue to monitor staking, it is also a good idea to prune out some tall stems from vigorous clumps, that way you help the plant make use of minimal water.

Bulbs: Garden centres are now stocking up with spring bulbs, so make sure your lists are ready for purchase as they tend to sell out.

Shrubs: Philadelphus and Deutzia should have this year’s flowering shoots pruned out allowing new shoots to develop and produce next year’s flowers.

Our dahlias started flowering and were beautiful, now the flowers are tattered and holed. What are we doing wrong? We are new gardeners. Ann, Co Roscommon.

I think you have one of two issues: earwig or slug damage.

Check to see if you have translucent trails on your dahlia foliage, if so then it is slug damage. If not, it is most likely earwig damage.

If it is slug damage, place a piece of cucumber at the base of the plant and they will be attracted to it. If you suspect earwigs, place an upturned pot stuffed with paper or straw on a bamboo cane in the midst of your plant and check it in the morning. Earwigs love somewhere to hide as daybreak arrives. You can then dispatch them.