I tried to get a good photo of the hummingbirds after my Salvia. They love this plant. People say they like red, but I say they like blue!

yes, they also like my salvia black and blue. Just like yours.

I think they like these a lot. I saw them on my Red Hesperaloe today. They like those too.

Lovely! Here in Australia we have a small honeyeater called an Eastern Spinebill that fills the same niche as the hummingbirds do. It even hovers at the flowers, though isn't as good at hovering as a humminbird. In my garden the Spinebills LOVE my Salvias, even though they aren't native flowers. They go to the red Pineapple sage, the tall blue flowered Salvia (no id as it came from a fete) and the carmine pink one that may be a greggii but no id as it came from a friend. It likes all colours, so long as they have nectar. Of course they go to the native flowers too, they are just opportunistic. The Salvias are great since they flower in Autumn and some even in winter, while the natives are more in spring summer.

Hi Vanessa

Welcome to ATP and to the Agastaches & Salvias forum!

Your gardens sound wonderful!

I hope you join us often here!

Thanks, I will as I have lots of questions about these plants!

Is Salvias and Sage the same family? I was told that there is a sage called "hummingbird sage" and is really good for hummers. I live in Middle Tennessee and am in the process of expanding my butterfly/hummingbird garden. I wonder if this hummingbird sage would grow ok in my area which is zone 7 ?

Thanks for the "add" , I live and garden in Middle Tennessee and in the process of expanding my butterfly/hummingbird garden. this will take in about 1 1/2 acres when done. here are a couple pics of what has been done so far in the last 4 years

@Errol

Welcome to ATP and to the Agastaches & Salvias forum!

Yes, salvia and sage are the same thing.

Hummingbird sage are varieties of Salvia coccinea:

The best known ones are....
Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph',
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red',
Salvia coccinea 'Forest Fire',
Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph',
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Pink',
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Red'
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel White'

You can find a lot more salvias/sages in the ATP plant database: http://garden.org/plants/brows...

I don't think they are hardy to zone 7, but they do reseed some and are a great choice for the hummingbird garden. Long blooming (with deadheading) and easy to grow.

@clintbrown

You live in TN, maybe you can give Errol some TN gardening tips for salvias and other plants.

There are some that are hardy, but plant them early in the spring.

thank you Marilyn and Clint for the information. And I can use all the help on different plants/seeds for my middle Tn zone 7 area. I am also trying to get as much Tn native plants growing here which I already have some which were already growing on this property. I am learning more all the time. Where are you located in Tn Clint? I am between Murfreesboro and Manchester. I belong to the Middle Tn Plant Swap and we are having a plant swap this Saturday, Oct 17th at Henry Horton State Park starting at 9 am with potluck lunch, and you are invited. I promise you won't go home without plants! lol

Thanks! I love in Medina. It's close to Jackson, TN.

This outside the Agastache and Salvia range, but get yourself some Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirons. Some types like Alabama Crimson and Major Wheeler will bloom on and off from spring into late fall. As to other salvias you can grow that depends on your soil type, drainage, and plant zone. You can do a lot if you are zone 7a or warmer and have soil that drains well in winter. Otherwise you are forced to either grow them as annuals or winter over plants indoors. The latter is a lot of fun but not for everyone and how to do that is another discussion.

Hi Ward,

Welcome to ATP and welcome to the Agastache and Salvias forum.

I grow Major Wheeler and keep it deadheaded all season long to keep it producing flowers. The hummers love coral Honeysuckle flowers and will sometimes perch on the stems.

Thanks Ward & Marilyn, I will check on these plants or seeds. I assume being a honeysuckle that it grows as a vine. Since I am in the process of building a rustic red cedar pergola, this will be perfect.

Errol

Yes, it is a vine.