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Browse Plants

Narrowed By:Uses: Container, Focal Point+ Botanical Name: S - U
Displaying 1 - 20 of 128 listings   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7View AllNext > Sort By: Sort
Sabal minor Sabal minor
(Dwarf palmetto, Scrub palmetto)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This species has deeply divided, fan-shaped leaves of blue-green to 3 feet across. It bears ivory blossoms on 6-foot-long panicles in summer. It may be shoot-hardy to Zone 6 with a deep layer of mulch. 

no image available Saccharum arundinaceum
(Plume grass, Hardy sugar cane)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

In late summer, this large, clump-forming species bears huge plumes of delicate pink flower clusters, which eventually fade to silver.

Saccharum ravennae Saccharum ravennae
(Ravenna grass)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This large, clump-forming grass has linear leaves with central white stripes. In late summer it bears huge, purplish-bronze flower clusters, which eventually fade to silver. It resents high fertility and shows considerable drought tolerance.

no image available Salpiglossis sinuata and cvs.
(Painted tongues)
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Long, narrow leaves grow in rosettes near the ground. Flower stems shoot upward to 2 feet with 3-inch-wide, petunia-like, purple, blue, or scarlet flowers marked with broad veins of gold. Cultivars include 'Splash,' 'Bolero,' and the more compact-growing 'Casino'.

Salvia 'Indigo Spires' Salvia 'Indigo Spires'
('Indigo Spires' sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

'Indigo Spires' sage is a vigorous hybrid prized for its 12- to 15-inch-long, twisting spikes of dark violet flowers. It is a non-stop bloomer from early summer through fall. Blooming can be further encouraged by pinching stem tips early in the growing season and deadheading the spikes once they fade. 'Indigo Spires' quickly grows to 4 feet high, and can be grown as an annual where not hardy.  

no image available Salvia 'Mystic Spires Blue'
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Throughout the summer, 'Mystic Spires Blue' produces long stalks of dark blue flowers, which continue to reward in abundance when deadheaded. Refresh tired plants in midsummer by cutting them back by half. This cultivar makes an excellent bedding or container plant.

Salvia canariensis Salvia canariensis
(Canary Island sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This short-lived, tender perennial shrub native to the Canary Islands off the African coast sends up 6-foot white-furred stems cloaked with long, felted, arrow-shaped leaves and topped, summer to frost, with plumes of purplish violet flowers clasped by red-tipped calyxes. It grows up to 4 feet wide.

Salvia chamaedryoides Salvia chamaedryoides
(Germander sage, Mexican blue sage)
(2 user reviews)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This choice species boasts narrow, downy sage-green leaves and true sky-blue blossoms from summer to fall. It has woody stems and forms a beautiful specimen 12 inches tall by 18 inches wide.

Salvia coccinea Salvia coccinea
(Texas sage, Hummingbird sage)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This upright tender perennial provides rich color for annual bedding schemes where it is not hardy. Its deep red flowers are borne on 2- to 2.5- foot, open spikes from summer to autumn. Plants grow to about a foot wide and bear hairy, oval to heart-shaped leaves. Salvias are some of the showiest plants for containers, annual borders, and mixed borders. Butterflies and hummingbirds love them.

Salvia discolor Salvia discolor
(Andean silver-leaf sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This tender perennial from Peru is highly unusual for its dramatic, purple-black flowers and pistachio-green calyces. The flowers appear from late summer to early fall. The drama is heighted by its contrasting silvery leaves and stems, which are densely cloaked in woolly, white hairs. Plants grow to about 18 inches tall and 12 inches wide. This specimen looks great tumbling over the edge of a container.

Salvia farinacea Salvia farinacea
(Mealycup sage)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This perennial forms a shrubby upright clump 2 feet tall by 1 foot wide, with white mealy stems and glossy green leaves. It bears deep, lavender-blue flowers on tall spikes from early summer to frost. Salvias are some of the showiest plants for containers, annual borders, and mixed borders. Butterflies and hummingbirds love them. 

Salvia farinacea 'Victoria' Salvia farinacea 'Victoria'
(Mealycup sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This compact perennial forms a bush less than 1.5eet tall by 1 foot wide, with indigo stems and glossy green leaves. It bears deep, navy blue flowers on medium spikes from early summer to frost.

Salvia greggii Salvia greggii
(Autumn sage)
(3 user reviews)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This native of Texas and Mexico has a woody base and can form a dwarf, evergreen shrub, 1 foot tall by 1 foot wide. It has small, leathery leaves and bears bright flowers in shades of pink, purple, or yellow from early summer to frost.

Salvia mexicana 'Limelight' Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This unusual tender perennial displays an electric color combination when its vibrant purple-blue flowers open from bright chartreuse calyces.  Fortunately, glossy, bright green leaves hold their own until the show gets started in August (and continues until frost). It forms a tall bush, 6 feet tall by 6 feet wide, which is great for the back of the border. Salvias are some of the showiest plants for containers, annual borders, and mixed borders. Butterflies and hummingbirds love them. 

Salvia microphylla var. neurepia Salvia microphylla var. neurepia
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

This native of the American Southwest and Mexico forms an evergreen shrub or shrubby perennial with dark, glossy leaves that are small (but slightly larger than most microphyllas) and softly toothed. It blooms off and on all summer, and again, more vigorously, in late summer and autumn, in blossoms of cherry-red. Its attractive foliage cloaks the plant to the ground, so it is well suited to the front of the border. It can grow to 4 feet tall and twice as wide.

Salvia officinalis Salvia officinalis
(Common sage, Culinary sage, Purple sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Cooks and gardeners alike are indebted to this classic, evergreen perennial for the unique, pungent flavor and aroma that its gray-green leaves produce. It forms a 2.5-foot-tall by 3-foot-wide bush with woody stems that may be trimmed back to newly emerging growth or strong stems in spring. In early to mid-summer, it sends up lavender-purple flower spikes; it has both ornamental and culinary qualities in an herb garden. It tolerates alkaline soils, but not wet winter conditions.

Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten' Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten'
(Common sage, Culinary sage, Purple sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Cooks and gardeners alike are indebted to this evergreen perennial for the unique, pungent flavor and aroma that its gray-green leaves produce. S. 'Berggarten' is more compact than the species, forming a 2-foot tall by 3-foot wide bush with woody stems that may be trimmed back to newly emerging growth or strong stems in spring. In early to mid-summer, it sends up purple flower spikes. It boasts attractively rounded leaves and, like the species, has both ornamental and culinary qualities in an herb garden. It tolerates alkaline soils, but not wet winter conditions.

Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens' Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens'
(Common sage, Culinary sage, Purple sage)
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Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Cooks and gardeners alike are indebted to this evergreen perennial for the unique, pungent flavor and aroma that its gray-green leaves produce. This cultivar has leaves suffused with steely-gray purple. It forms a 1.5-foot-tall and wide bush with woody stems that may be trimmed back to newly emerging growth or strong stems in spring. In early to mid-summer, it sends up lavender-purple flower spikes; it has both ornamental and culinary qualities in an herb garden. It tolerates alkaline soils, but cannot survive wet winter conditions.

Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain' Salvia verticillata 'Purple Rain'
(Lilac sage)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Throughout the summer, this cultivar produces multiple flower spikes in irresistible shades of smoky purple. At about 20 inches tall and half as wide, the plant flowers abundantly, inviting you to make bouquets and to keep up with the deadheading. 

Sambucus nigra 'Gerda' Sambucus nigra 'Gerda'
(Black Beauty™ elderberry)
(1 user review)
Hardiness Zones: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Valued for its flowers, foliage, and fruit, Black Beauty™ elderberry is a deciduous shrub that requires regular watering during its first few yearsbut will become more drought tolerant as it becomes established. Areas with moist soil are ideal. Black Beauty™ will grow 8 feet tall if left unpruned, but fairly severe pruning in the first year will keep the plant from looking leggy. Pruning will sacrifice the large pink flowers, but the plant will be much sturdier and have a better habit if you do. The flowers, which bloom in June, are large and have a lemony scent. The foliage is dark and finely cut. Elderberries are edible and can be used to make juice or jelly, if the birds don't get there first. -Teresa Smith, Regional Picks: Northeast, Fine Gardening issue #120


Displaying 1 - 20 of 128 listings   1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7View AllNext > Sort By: Sort