Flowers by the Sea | Welcome to Flowers by the Sea

With heavy hearts, we learned today Dr. Richard F. Dufresne, the "Sultan of Salvias", passed away in his North Carolina home. The Salvia world will miss Rich greatly.

Welcome to Flowers by the Sea, a family run mail-order plant nursery. We've been supplying gardeners with superior plants for over 25 years. Our plants are large, healthy and guaranteed to please.

The genus Salvia is our specialty, and we have the largest selection in the United States. We currently offer 377 Salvia species, hybrids and varieties - along with numerous outstanding hummingbird, butterfly and bee plants. Our focus is on plants for pollinators.

Each and every one has been extensively tested & evaluated before we list them here. We're proud of the quality of what we grow, and Unconditionally Guarantee your complete satisfaction with everything we sell.

Ordering for 2019 has begun!
Shop early for the very best selection.

Read what our customers say about our service, quality and selection.

Time for Gifts for Gardeners

Flowers by the Sea Gift Certificates are perfect gifts

Our Gift Certificates, available in any amount from $25, are great gifts for gardeners. They can be used at any time (they don't expire) and take the guesswork out of gift giving for that hard-to-know-what-to get gardener in your life. And they are delivered immediately via email - a perfect last minute gift.

Pantone's Color of the Year for 2019

According to the Pantone website, the 2019 Pantone Color of the Year for 2019 is

PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral

An animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge

We recognize it as the flower color of several outstanding Salvias

Create a display of SHIMMERING SUNSET colors in your garden with the beautiful varieties displayed here.

These are the colors PANTONE suggests using in combination with Living Coral in their SHIMMERING SUNSET collection:

PANTONE^®
Conch Shell

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Hot Pink

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Aurora Pink

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Magenta Haze

PANTONE^®
Papaya

PANTONE^®
Living Coral

PANTONE is a registered trademark of Pantone LLC.

Visit this site on your desktop for more information.

New Arrivals & Recently Back in Stock
What's Great Right Now?

We test every plant before we offer it for sale. Your success is our success. You can be confident that these new introductions are dependable garden plants." - Kermit Carter, General Manager

Change is constant in horticulture. Selecting the best new plants is daunting even in one genus, especially Salvia, which contains about 900 species of true sages worldwide. Our New Arrivals section showcases the latest sages and companions in our online catalog whether new to commercial horticulture or only to our gardens. Please contact us if you have questions or gardening experiences to share about these plants.

Salvia raymondii ssp. mairanae

$11.50

(Bolivian Mountain Sage) Neon lilac-pink flowers light up the handsome, furry foliage of this distinctive sage from high in the Andes cloud forests. Its large, textured leaves have dark, velvety purple undersides. Unhappy in dry heat, this is a very showy plant for humid climates.

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Salvia VIBE 'Ignition Fuchsia'

$11.50

(VIBE® Ignition Fuchsia Sage) A perfect companion to our Best of Breed 'Ignition Purple', Ignition Fuschia has velvety deep fuschia pink flowers that are rare in a Jame Sage hybrid. They bloom spring to fall for your enjoyment.

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Salvia x 'Big Blue'

$11.00

(Big Blue Sage) This new seed grown strain can best be described as a much improved Indigo Spires. Deep green leaves and masses of rich deep blue flowers are displayed from early summer till the end of the growing season. This is one of the finest new Salvias to be introduced in years.

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Asclepias curassavica 'Apollo Orange'

$11.50

(Orange Bloodflower) Vivid orange and gold clusters of tiny, star-shaped flowers contrast handsomely with the dark green, lance-shaped leaves of Orange Bloodflower. Other common names include Tropical Milkweed and Mexican Butterfly Weed.

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Lepechinia hastata

$11.50

(Baja Pitcher Sage) Some botanists argue that this shrubby perennial, growing "wild" in many parts of the Hawaiian Islands, may indeed be a human introduction. No matter where it is from originally, it is a surprisingly hardy tropical looking Salvia relative that features large, felted gray arrow shaped (hastate) leaves and intense lavender rose tubular flowers.

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Salvia cyanescens

$12.50

(Blue Turkish Sage) Large velvety gray-green to white leaves in loose rosettes give this sage a distinctive look as does the celestial violet-blue of its flowers. The blossoms seem much too large for this short sage and its thin, candelabra-branched flower spikes.

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Salvia hians 'Super Elk Strain'

$14.50

(Himalayan Sage or Kashmir Sage) The word "hians" in Salvia hians means "gaping" and refers to the hanging lip of this sage's flowers, which are a dusky violet and bloom from late spring through early fall.

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Salvia scutellarioides 'Elk True Blue'

$11.50

(Ground Ivy Sage) The true blue flowers, displayed above the large leaves and spreading habit makes this a very special plant. As a ground cover in shady locations it has no peer. Fast growing and free blooming, it attracts hummingbirds too.

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Salvia x westerae 'Elk Hot Pink'

$12.00

(Hybrid Bolivian Sage) This hybrid between Salvia orbignaei and Salvia haenkei occurs in the low-to-mid elevations of the Bolivian Andes. Recreated in the greenhouse from superior patents, this is a select variety with stunning beauty.

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Salvia x 'Elk Orange Spires'

$11.50

(Elk Orange Spires Sage) Similar in habit to the popular 'Scarlet Spires', this new variety from FBTS has large bright orange flowers that are irresistible to hummingbirds. It is more compact and floriferous than 'Scarlet Spires' as well.

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Salvia x 'Elk Cranberry Red'

$11.50

(Elk Cranberry Red Sage) With larger-than-expected deep red flowers and dark stems, this outstanding new variety from FBTS is without a doubt a "Best of Breed" plant.

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Salvia x 'Elk Screamin' Scarlet'

$11.50

(Elk Screamin' Scarlet Sage) Wow. No, double wow. This brilliantly colored new variety is nothing short of stunning. The glossy green leaves are the perfect foil for the flowers, which at times are so numerous that the are all you can see.

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Salvia miltiorrhiza 'Super Elk'

$13.50

(Giant Dan-shen) This strain is highly vigorous and grows larger than others of this species. The flowers are larger as well, and the inflorescence are taller and longer lasting. We are happy to offer this variety for the first time in 2019.

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Salvia omiena

$13.50

(Mount Emei Sage) Featuring clouds of small yellow flowers, this hardy shade-loving perennial is easy to grow and quite rewarding. It is sturdy and easy to grow, handling a wider range of conditions than many Chinese native Salvias,

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Salvia splendens van houttei 'Elk Giant Orange'

$11.50

(Elk Giant Orange Scarlet Sage) This is the largest variety we know of, a true giant that can reach over 8 feet tall. The floral display if equally gigantic, with displays sometimes 16 inches long. And orange - no doubt about it a vivid orange that is a beacon to hummingbirds.

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Cuphea ignea

$11.50

(Firecracker Plant) This variety is identical to the plant sold as Vermillionaire® by Proven Winners®. It is an outstanding clone of this species, blooming non stop all season. Hummingbirds adore it, and seem always to be in the vicinity.

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Stachys chamissonis 'Ted's Giant'

$11.50

(Giant Coastal Hedgenettle) Found on the Pacific coast from Northern California to Alaska, this ultra-vigorous Salvia relative is a perfect choice for wet areas in the garden. It tolerated drought, but looks its best when well watered. One of the best native hummingbird plants wherever it grows.

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Agastache ‘Morello’

$11.50

(Morello Anise Hyssop) Non-stop blooming, deep rich burgundy rose flower color and strong deep green leaves make this a top choice for gardeners everywhere. Unlike many varieties, this vigorous grower even does well in the heat and humidity of the East and Southeast.

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Salvia nipponica var. Formosana

$13.50

(Formosan Woodland Sage or Tai wan qin zhu cao) A native of Taiwan, this Salvia nipponica grows well in hot, humid climates as well as milder locales.

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Salvia x 'Skyscraper Pink'

$11.50

(Skyscraper Pink Sage) Brand new for 2018, this beautiful plant is compact, easy to grow in the shade and full of flowers all season long. They make outstanding container plants as well.

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Cantua buxifolia 'Hot Pants'

$11.50

(Bicolor Sacred Flower of the Incas) Four-inch-long trumpet blossoms in a neon combination of red-orange and hot pink contrast with mid-green foliage in Cantua buxifolia 'Hot Pants'. This is a hybrid of a long blooming, South American native.

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Salvia leucocephala

$16.00

(White Headed Sage) One of the most visually stunning members of the genus, this large growing, tender, winter blooming species from the mountains of Ecuador will turn every head with its furry white calyxes and brilliant magenta red flowers.

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"Many of these are in very short supply, so act fast if you find something you like!" - Vikki Carter, Nursery Manager

Each week, we walk through the nursery with a clipboard in hands, looking for the best we have to offer. All of the plants listed here are "prime", ready to succeed in your garden. In some cases they are just coming into bloom. Or they may be at the perfect stage to transplant. Or the seasonal foliage color may be at its peak.

In any case, the list changes every week, so check back for the latest and greatest from Flowers by the Sea.

Salvia BODACIOUS 'Rhythm and Blues'

$11.50

(Rhythm and Blues Anise-Scented Sage) New for 2017, this variety is a superior version of the older standby 'Black and Blue'. Easy to grow and rewarding, this hummingbird favorite is our very best Anise Scented Sage.

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Salvia wagneriana

$11.50

(Wagner's Sage) From November to March, Wagner's Sage produces lavish, hot pink flowers with pink bracts at our Northern California coastal farm. It is is a superb source of food for the Anna's hummingbirds that live here during winter.

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Salvia chionophylla

$12.50

(Snowflake Sage) Wiry, trailing stems of small white leaves make this plant look like fresh snowfall. Numerous, small, sky blue flowers with prominent bee lines further add to the cooling look. This dry-garden plant is native to the mountains of the Chihuahuan desert of North Central Mexico.

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Salvia x 'Elk Lemon Light'

$11.50

(Elk Lemon Light Jame Sage) We are proud to offer this luminescent, pure yellow Salvia x jamensis -- a color breakthrough from our own breeding program. The bright, light blossoms cool the landscape similar to white flowers, but with colorful impact. The glossy green leaves are quite small - a very attractive and distinctive characteristic.

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Salvia greggii 'Lowrey's Peach'

$11.50

(Lowrey's Peach Autumn Sage) No other Salvia has a color like this: a warm, rosy orange with a pastel peach skirt and bright yellow throat. Wow! This is our best pastel orange Autumn Sage not only due to its blossoms but also it's compact branching habit and glossy foliage.

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Salvia dichlamys x microphylla 'Elk Red-Violet'

$11.50

(Elk Red-Violet Hybrid Sage) A very special new hybrid Sage, featuring small but very numerous deep red-violet flowers on a vigorous, easy to grow plant. Loved by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. A FBTS introduction.

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Salvia microphylla 'Royal Bumble'

$11.50

(Royal Bumble Mountain Sage) Almost black, the stems and calyxes of this UK hybrid form a pleasing contrast with its medium-size scarlet flowers and glossy green leaves. Bloom time is spring to fall. This Mountain Sage suckers freely and forms a dense clump.