30-60cm. Annual. Lavender-blue flowers with dark violet calyces, summer to autumn. Very pretty! Aromatic. Well-drained soil, sun.

90cm. Spikes of violet-blue flowers in summer. Fertile, well-drained soil in full sun.

90 x 30cm. Deep blue flowers in mid-summer to autumn. Initial growth is upright, then has a tendency to sprawl. Keep frost-free in winter.

60-90cm. Deep blue-purple flowers in candelabra-shaped inflorescences. Main flowering in early to mid-summer, with some flowers produced into autumn. Fertile, well-drained soil, sun. Photo shows frosted foliage.

75cm. Deep violet flowers on a bushy shrub, from July to November. Hardy in warmer areas, in fertile, well-drained soil in sun.

1.2-2m. A handsome plant, with evergreen attractive foliage, and spikes of rusty red flowers from late summer to autumn. Fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Keep frost-free in winter. Good in a container.

100cm. Dark green, crinkled foliage. Deep blue flowers late summer-autumn. Fertile soil in sun or part shade. Over-winter frost-free.

60 x 60cm. Very deep indigo flowers against pale green calyces, in summer and autumn. Fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Keep frost free in winter. Good in a container.

60-90cm. Silvery reverse to the aromatic leaves. Furry purple flowers late summer. Sun or part shade.

90 x 50cm. Clump-forming perennial, bearing spikes of deep blue-purple flowers with a white marking, all summer. Best in full sun, in humus-rich moist but well-drained soil.

50-100 x 40cm. Vivid red, velvety flowers from late summer onwards. Not hardy, but continues to flower through the winter in frost-free conditions. Fertile soil in sun or part shade.

75cm. Variegated foliage, with cherry red flowers, very long-flowering, from mid-summer through to autumn. Makes a bushy shrub, hardy in warmer areas(-5˚C) in a sheltered sunny spot in fertile, well-drained soil. Good container plant.

70cm. Pure yellow flowers. Habit and conditions similar to above.

250 x 90cm. Large, deep blue flowers with almost black calyces, in late summer to autumn. Needs moisture-retentive soil, and will do well on clay soils. Sun or part shade. Protect from frost.

120-170x 90cm. Similar to above, but with sky-blue flowers and green calyces. Hardy in warmer areas in a sheltered position.

1.5-2m. Dense spikes of indigo-blue flowers from summer into winter. Attractive to bees. Fertile soil, sun or part shade. Keep frost-free in winter.

1.5m. Deep pink flowers with a large, unopening terminal bud, from late summer until frosts. Fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Needs a sheltered sunny spot, or keep frost free.

30cm. Feathered Sage. Finely divided, fern-like foliage. Whorls of pale violet, 'upside-down' flowers in summer. Dislikes winter wet.

30-40 x 60cm. Evergreen silver-grey foliage, with pale lavender-blue flowers in early to mid-summer. Fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Culinary herb. Good for sage tea.

60-100 x 40-90cm. Evergreen sub-shrub, with white flowers and velvety purple to lavender calyces, flowering through the winter under protection.

60-90cm. Pink flowers over a long period in summer and autumn, on a bushy shrub. Prefers fertile, well-drained soil in full sun, and needs winter protection unless in a sheltered spot in a warm county. (If the top growth is cut back in these conditions, it usually sprout from the base, rather like a hardy fuchsia.) Makes a good container plant.

90cm. Vivid red flowers. Habit and conditions similar to above.

90cm. Deep pinkish-red flowers. Habit and conditions similar to above.

60cm. Rich reddish-violet flowers. Habit and conditions similar to above.

25cm. A compact, floriferous plant with short spikes of intense purple flowers in summer. Attracts bees. Drought tolerant once established.

75 x 60cm. An excellent clump-forming perennial with spikes of deep blue-violet flowers all summer. Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, (water well until established).

50-60 x 60cm. Similar to above, but with pink flowers.

80 x 100cm. A more unusual form of the common sage, having white flowers. Good culinary herb. Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in full sun, (water well until established).

45-60 x 45cm. Tuberous perennial, with vivid blue flowers from mid-summer to autumn. Fertile, well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Hardy in warmer areas, or lift tubers and keep frost free in winter

Similar to above, with light blue flowers.

90 x 30cm. Showy panicles of lavender-blue flowers produced in early to mid-summer. Humus-rich, fertile soil in full sun. Short-lived perennial. Self seeds.

przewalskii *** 150 x 90cm. Spikes of purplish-blue flowers all summer. Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or part shade (water well until established).

70cm. Rich purplish-red flowers in summer. Well-drained soil in full sun in a sheltered spot.

100 x 30cm. In the second season, bears large inflorescences of white flowers with lilac bracts.

Similar to above, but both flowers and bracts are white.

80cm. Deep red flowers all summer. Very floriferous.

uliginosa 170-200 x 90cm. Produces spikes of sky-blue flowers in late summer and autumn. Needs moist soil and sun in summer, but does not like to lie wet in winter. Provide a protective dry mulch in late autumn, and protect the new growths from the attention of slugs in spring!

60-90cm. Pink flowers. The x jamensis salvias are hybrids between S. microphylla and S. greggii. They make bushy shrubs, hardy in warmer areas (-8C) in a sunny, well-drained, sheltered spot. They flower from mid-summer through autumn, and make good cotainer plants.

60-90cm. Creamy flowers with pink blush. Similar habit and conditions to above.

60-90cm. Pale pink with dark calyces. Similar habit and conditions to above.

60cm. Spikes of bright blue-mauve flowers, summer. Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil, in full sun,(water well until established).

As above, with violet flowers, dark calyces.