Salvias are a whole genus of plants that belong to the Lamiaceae family and have more than 900 species to their credit. It is true that, when we talk about sage, we almost always refer to Salvia officinalis , but in reality there are many more varieties of sage , each with different characteristics.
If you want to learn more about these aromatic plants with beautiful floral spikes or how many types of salvias exist, join us in this Green Ecology article in which we show you the names of 12 types of salvias , we talk about the specific characteristics of some of these species and we comment on its care and properties.
Salvia officinalis
The most recognizable of the salvias is Salvia officinalis , a herbaceous plant typical of warm or temperate regions of much of the planet. In fact, it has its origin in the dry and rocky Mediterranean areas.
It is a perennial plant, with remarkably accelerated growth and great rusticity, so much so that it practically does not need care once it is adult. In addition, it can grow to approximately 70 cm in height. The leaves of salvias of this type are of a color that can go from green to bluish gray and their flowers are between pink and lilac and about 3 cm.
Salvia microphylla
La Salvia microphylla , also known as micro sage, rose sage or salvia grenadine , among other names, it is one of the sages of garden or ornamental popular because their flowers are long lasting and permanence. It reaches heights of up to 1 meter, with thin stems and oval leaves of a green hue that can range from pale to light but intense green.
Its flowers appear between late summer and autumn, being one of the most appreciated among the salvias flowers for its bright fuchsia and carmine tones and for its ability to withstand temperatures down to -15 ºC. This plant also has an aroma similar to that of mint.
Guaranitica sage
Commonly known as blue sage , this species is a subshrub that grows to heights of up to 2 meters. The Salvia Guaranitica is native to South America, which can be considered invasive because of its large capacity of lateral growth.
Its leaves are rough and its flowers, formed in spikes of about 20 cm, are very striking in different bluish tones. The flowers grow from late summer to winter and, due to its appearance and growth, it is widely used to mark margins or borders in gardens.
Salvia splendens
It is known as banderilla sage due to its spikes, although it is also called red sage because of the flowers of these spikey formations. La Salvia splendens originated in some tropical areas of South America beyond, especially in Brazil, and rarely a height of 1 meter.
It is a plant that, although it behaves perennially in its natural habitat, tends to function as an annual plant in gardens and crops. It is highly appreciated for its incredible scarlet flowering, the color that the entire ear adopts, and that the plant gives from spring to autumn.
Salvia elegans
The Salvia elegans is also called pineapple sage, flower of the hill, lemongrass or puppies reojos . It is a plant that comes from Mexico and Guatemala and lives in high forest areas.
Its flowers are a feast for hummingbirds and butterflies. Its first common name is due to its smell, which is reminiscent of the American pineapple. Its aerial part dies when the first winter frosts arrive, but it sprouts again in spring. It is particularly digestive.
Other types of sage
There are a large number of types of sage in addition to the ones we have already mentioned. This is a list with some more salvias names:
- Sage leucantha
- Salvia greggii
- Sage apiana
- Salvia farinacea
- Sage
- Sage nemorosa
- Clary sage
Below you can see the salvias images in this list in the same order.
Basic care of salvias
Salvias tend to be fairly hardy or rustic plants, but it helps to know what their general needs are. These are the cares of salvias :
- Light: indirect or filtered insolation and very abundant in most varieties.
- Climate: warm or temperate temperatures. Some resist frost.
- Location: aerated so that it does not suffer from rotting.
- Watering: moderate, every 48-72 hours in the warm months and always without flooding.
- Substrate: light, with good drainage and, ideally, rich in nutrients.
- Fertilizer: yes, in the warm and flowering months. Here we tell you how to make organic compost for plants .
Properties of salvias
What are salvias for? These plants can do much more for us in addition to simply beautifying our gardens and homes, and it is that salvias have proven beneficial properties. And what properties does sage have ? What are its benefits?
- Antibiotic.
- Antiseptic
- Astringent.
- Febrifuge.
- Antioxidant
- Hypoglycemic.
- Tonic or mild stimulant.
- Digestive
- Carminative.
- Anti-inflammatory.
- Antispasmodic.
- Choleretic.
- Estrogenic, so it helps to calm the symptoms of climacteric.
- Emenagogue, which helps to promote menstruation.
- Beneficial for skin and hair.
- Its beneficial properties for cognitive activity are being studied.
As you can see, it is a plant with enormous potential to improve our health and quality of life, suitable for a variety of ailments and discomforts. Many medications incorporate some of its components, but we can also benefit from it in the form of infusions and tonics that help us with poor digestion, skin irritation, an episode of anxiety or a particularly painful menstrual cycle, among many other things.
