by High Country Gardens

I was bitten by the Salvia bug many years ago and have been pursuing a passion for this incredible genus ever since. Salvia are distributed nearly world-wide and their diversity is enormous, being found in some many different climates and growing conditions across the globe. Closer to home, the western US and northern Mexico is the home of a number of highly ornamental species of Salvia. And they are all highly attractive to hummingbirds, making their inclusion in your garden a must.
California Native Salvia
California Salvia are beautiful and quite different from those more familiar species such as Salvia greggii, found in AZ, NM and Texas. Many of these Californians are extremely xeric (waterwise), because they must survive in a Mediterranean climate (winter wet and summer dry) and go for half a year without much water. Many species are also coastal in their native habitat making them also tolerant to salt spray and more saline soils.
Salvia x 'Pozo Blue'
I have grown many of the CA species over the years. And one of the very best in my experience, is 'Pozo Blue,' a fabulous native hybrid discovered and introduced to the public by Las Palitas Nursery (specialists in CA native plants). A garden hybrid between Salvia clevelandii and Salvia leucophylla, 'Pozo Blue' is breathtakingly beautiful in bloom with tall spires of clear blue flowers held over pewter-gray foliage. A large shrubby plant in the ground, it matures to 3-5' tall x 3-5' wide and is an invaluable plant for attracting numerous species of butterflies, hummingbirds and quail.

contrast with Salvia x 'Pozo Blue'
Cold hardy to about USDA zone 7b, it does best in CA, Arizona, Las Vegas, NV and southern NM and west TX. In colder winter climates it is worth definitely worth growing as a perennial container plant, in part, because of its over-the-top attractiveness to hummingbirds and its tolerance to the dry conditions provided by sunny pots. A pair of 'Pozo Blue' plants at the front gate is a nice touch.
Companion Plants for Salvia 'Pozo Blue'
In the landscape, 'Pozo Blue' enjoys being planted with:
- Caryopteris (Blue Mist Spirea) is a shrub that enjoys a Mediterranean climate and maintains the blue theme by blooming later in the summer when 'Pozo Blue' has finished.
- Agastache (Hummingbird Mint) is also an excellent companion, enjoying the same poor soils and hot, sunny growing conditions that this Salvia prefers.

enjoys similar growing conditions as Salvia 'Pozo Blue.'
- Agastache 'Desert Solstice' with its large, mauve flower spikes is a great performer.
- Agastache rupestris (Licorice Mint Hyssop) has orange flowers to go with blue.
- Artemisia 'Sea Foam',with its frothy curls of silver, aromatic leaves is a striking ground cover to carpet the ground around the base of 'Pozo Blue'.
- Sphaeralcea munroana (Orange Globe Mallow) enjoys similar growing conditions and blooms in brilliant orange.
Text and Photos By David Salman © All articles are copyrighted by High Country Gardens. Republication is prohibited without permission.Salvia sylvestris ‘May Night’ (Meadow Sage) blooms prolifically with deep purple-blue flowers. It is an outstanding perennial with excellent cold hardiness, vigor, and to...
Learn MoreMay Night Salvia May Night Meadow Sage Salvia sylvestris May NightAs low as $11.99 Sale $9.59Per Plant - 5" Deep PotSalvia sylvestris ‘May Night’ (Meadow Sage) blooms prolifically with deep purple-blue flowers. It is an outstanding perennial with excellent cold hardiness, vigor, and tolerance of heavy clay soils. Blooming in late spring with a profusion of flower spikes, it reblooms later in the summer when deadheaded.2005 Plant Select Winner. 24-36„ tall x 18„ wide. Salvia greggii ‚Furman‚s Red‚ (Texas Sage) is one of the most cold hardy of the native Salvia greggii...
Learn MoreFurman's Red Texas Salvia Furman's Red Texas Sage Salvia greggii Furman's RedAs low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep Pot2005 Plant Select Winner. 24-36" tall x 18" wide. Salvia greggii 'Furman's Red' (Texas Sage) is one of the most cold hardy of the native Salvia greggii family. Blooming in late spring and again in the fall, the plant covers itself with bright red flowers that attract the hummingbirds from miles around. Sweetly aromatic foliage too. A 2005 Plant Select winner. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Our Cold Hardy Rainbow Salvia Collection is an exciting array of Sage varieties featuring purple, red, pink, and coral flowers that bloom from summer through fall. The flowers look d...
Learn MoreCold Hardy Rainbow Salvia Collection Cold Hardy Rainbow Salvia Collection Salvia Collection$100.99 Sale $95.94Sale Price I Save 5%Per Collection of 9Our Cold Hardy Rainbow Salvia Collection is an exciting array of Sage varieties featuring purple, red, pink, and coral flowers that bloom from summer through fall. The flowers look delicate, but these native perennial plants are tough! They’re waterwise, cold hardy, and easy-to-grow in even hot, dry conditions. Flowers with a sweet herbal fragrance provide nectar to attract hummingbirds and bumblebees, while fragrant resinous foliage is resistant to deer and rabbits. Plant in a large swath and enjoy watching them sway as pollinators fly from plant to plant. Includes varieties introduced by David Salman, High Country Gardens founder & chief horticulturalist. Collection of 9 plants.‘Texas Violet’ Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea) is a potent purple powerhouse. Its tall spikes of cool indigo, violet, and blue interweave with its neighbors, completing...
Learn MoreTexas Violet Salvia Texas Violet Mealycup Sage Salvia farinacea Texas Violet$12.99Per Plant - 5" Deep Pot‘Texas Violet’ Mealy Cup Sage (Salvia farinacea) is a potent purple powerhouse. Its tall spikes of cool indigo, violet, and blue interweave with its neighbors, completing a beautiful color palette, and making ‘Texas Violet’ a must-have garden addition. Picture the lightly fragrant flower spikes dancing in a summer’s breeze. Drought tolerant, it is a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In colder zones, plant as an annual – it won’t disappoint!