Butterfly Plant Picture Gallery
Butterflies are welcome visitors and essential pollinators in gardens. Their grace and beauty are almost hypnotic. What do butterflies eat? Salvias are among the best flowers for butterflies, which are attracted by the nectar and pollen of sages as well as their color.
Salvias are nectar plants for adult butterflies. This list contains top sages and companion plants for feeding them. It also includes some companion plants that are important hosts for butterfly caterpillars.
Please refer to the Sage Words About Wildlife section of our Everything Salvias Blog for more in-depth information about butterflies in your garden.
At Flowers by the Sea, we continue to expand our offerings of Salvias and companion plants for wildlife habitat. Please check our online plant nursery catalog regularly for new listings and feel free to contact us<
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Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman'
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Salvia coccinea 'Forest Fire'
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Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious'
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Salvia elegans 'Honey Melon'
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Salvia verticillata
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Salvia x 'Waverly'
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Salvia elegans 'Tangerine'
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Salvia leucantha 'Danielle's Dream'
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Salvia azurea
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Salvia x 'Pozo Blue'
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Salvia greggii 'Cherry Chief'
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Salvia leucantha 'Greenwood'
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Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Red'
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Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph'
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Salvia greggii 'Playa Rosa'
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Salvia greggii 'Texas Wedding'
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Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos Festival'
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Salvia greggii 'Lowrey's Peach'
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Salvia microphylla 'Mesa Azure'
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Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing'
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Salvia leucantha 'Midnight'
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Salvia leucantha 'White Mischief'
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Salvia pitcheri grandiflora
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Salvia reptans
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Salvia ringens
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Salvia carnea
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Salvia splendens 'Sao Borja'
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Salvia greggii 'Cold Hardy Pink'
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Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'
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Salvia x 'Celestial Blue'
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Salvia amplexicaulis
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Salvia recognita
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Salvia microphylla 'Honey Rose'
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Salvia x jamensis 'Tangerine Ballet'
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Tweedia caerulea
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Salvia greggii 'Salmon'
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Salvia VIBE® 'Ignition White'
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Cuphea x 'David Verity'
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Cuphea x 'Kristen's Delight'
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Cuphea micropetala
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Agastache x 'Ava'
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Agastache x 'Kudos Coral'
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Agastache x 'Kudos Mandarin'
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Leonotis leonurus
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Cuphea schumannii
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Cuphea 'Minnie Mouse'
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Cuphea 'Strybing Sunset'
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Salvia 'Dancing Dolls'
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Salvia 'Fancy Dancer'
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Salvia 'Orchid Glow'
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Salvia x sylvestris 'Wild Form'
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Cuphea aff. aequipetala
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Cuphea nelsonii
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Anisacanthus wrightii 'Select Red'
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Anisacanthus wrightii 'Pumpkin Orange'
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Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph'
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Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red'
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Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Pink'
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Lobelia laxiflora var angustifolia
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Leonotis nepetifolia
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Salvia elegans 'Freida Dixon'
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Salvia greggii 'Radio Red'
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Salvia greggii 'Grace Pink'
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Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel White'
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Salvia x 'Wendy's Wish'
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Cuphea salvadorensis
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Salvia BODACIOUS 'Rhythm and Blues'
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Agastache 'Blue Boa'
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Salvia elegans 'Elk Sonoran Red'
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Salvia deserta
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Salvia x 'Big Blue'
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Cuphea ignea
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Salvia x 'Elk Morning Sun'
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Salvia austriaca
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Salvia x 'Elk Grape Ape'
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Salvia x 'Elk Smokey Grape'
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Cuphea Hummingbird’s Lunch
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Cuphea Blackberry Sparkler
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Salvia greggii 'Raspberry'
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Salvia BODACIOUS 'Hummingbird Falls'
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Cuphea purpurea 'Firecracker'
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Salvia SALLYFUN™ Blue Lagoon
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Agastache x 'Poquito Butter Yellow'
Related Blog entries for plants in the Butterfly Plant Picture Gallery
Wildscaping a butterfly-friendly garden in Southern California is an act of kindness, especially toward imperiled species. Gardeners from Santa Barbara southward may want to group coastal sage and chaparral plants in their butterfly gardens, because those are among favorite sources of nectar for adult butterflies and host plants for caterpillars. Sages are popular nectar choices. Plants, such as Milkweeds and Impatiens, that work well both as nectar providers and caterpillar hosts are important additions.
Declining numbers of Monarch butterflies is an ongoing problem. Due to research by organizations such as Monarch Watch and the Xerces Society as well as tracking efforts by the Mexican government, we now know about the dramatic ups and downs the species has experienced in the past 20 years. At Flowers by the Sea Online Nursery, we grow butterfly favorites to help you plant gardens supporting the migration of Monarchs and other butterflies.
If you want to invite butterflies to lodge in your backyard overnight or during winter, building pretty butterfly houses won't succeed. They need all kinds of messy hangouts to ride out a rain storm, sleep through the night safely and endure winter in your garden. You can build a butterfly hostel without hammer and nails.
Although America has many native milkweeds, choosing the right one for your garden partly depends on plant and seed availability. Limitations sometimes cause gardeners to select nonnative Tropical Milkweed. Flowers by the Sea helps gardeners nationwide to increase milkweed habitat, which Monarch Butterflies need as host and nectar plants. Ask Mr. Sage is a regular feature of the Everything Salvias Blog and is based on calls and emails from customers.
You may have better luck finding the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail among your Salvias than pronouncing its many long names.
Wildscaping is a way to landscape to attract pollinators. Butterflies are one of the most important. In Texas there are 463 species. Steering some of this herd of Lepidoptera toward your yard is easier if you know what butterflies frequent your region and which plants they favor for nectar and for laying their eggs, including Salvias. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Flowers by the Sea all can help Southwestern butterfly gardeners.
Reading Marlene A. Condon's Nature-Friendly Garden is like observing a game of toppling dominoes. All the pieces are lined up standing on end in a complex, maze-like pattern. Flick one domino and the whole structure tumbles. Similarly, the author shows how simple choices we make in our gardens have consequences that can build or destroy wildlife habitat.
Ask Mr. Sage answers questions based on calls and emails that Flowers by the Sea receives. This one explains how to cruise the Flowers by the Sea online catalog to find butterfly and hummingbird Salvias that can handle lots of moisture.
Portraits in Gardening is a blog series from Flowers by the Sea that profiles customers who are passionate about the Salvia genus. This article focuses on wildlife gardener, birder and dedicated volunteer Ward W. Dasey III, who grows Salvias at New Jersey's Palmyra Cove Nature Park. Dasey and nature-loving friends proposed the park to make bird watching easier on the Delaware River.
Flowers by the Sea recently received classification as a certified Monarch Waystation by Monarch Watch. When you purchase milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) from FBTS or seed from Monarch Watch, you can grow your own waystation and help Monarchs start making a comeback from their precipitous decline of recent years.
Creating a butterfly garden is like creating a teen-friendly home. You need to offer tasty snacks, healthy beverages, and comfortable accommodations that aren't too tidy. Like the teens that fill your basement and backyard, butterflies will keep coming back if you give them what they need. The variety of plants in your yard is the main reason why butterflies do or don’t visit. Salvias are among the popular plants for adult butterflies that love nectar.
Gardeners interested in developing wildlife habitat on balconies or in backyards can acquire certification
Name | Mature height | Mature width | Flower color | Bract color | Exposure |
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Salvia clevelandii 'Winnifred Gilman' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia coccinea 'Forest Fire' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Vivid Reddish Orange | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia elegans 'Golden Delicious' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Red | Strong Yellowish Green | Partial shade |
Salvia elegans 'Honey Melon' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Vivid Red | Moderate Olive Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia verticillata | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x 'Waverly' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia elegans 'Tangerine' | 1 to 2 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Deep Yellowish Pink | Moderate Red | Partial shade |
Salvia leucantha 'Danielle's Dream' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Moderate Purplish Pink | Pale Yellowish Green | Full sun |
Salvia azurea | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia x 'Pozo Blue' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia greggii 'Cherry Chief' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Red | Dark Purple | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia leucantha 'Greenwood' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Yellowish white | Vivid Violet | Full sun |
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Red' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Vivid Reddish Orange | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia coccinea 'Coral Nymph' | 1 foot or less | 1 foot or less | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Playa Rosa' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Pale Purplish Pink | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Texas Wedding' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Pure White | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia microphylla 'San Carlos Festival' | 1 to 2 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Red | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Lowrey's Peach' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Moderate Reddish Orange | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia microphylla 'Mesa Azure' | 1 foot or less | 1 foot or less | Strong Purplish Blue | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Wild Thing' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Purplish Red | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia leucantha 'Midnight' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Purple | Vivid Violet | Full sun |
Salvia leucantha 'White Mischief' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Yellowish white | Very Pale Green | Full sun |
Salvia pitcheri grandiflora | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia reptans | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia ringens | 1 foot or less | 1 foot or less | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia carnea | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Dark Red | Dark Red | Partial to full shade |
Salvia splendens 'Sao Borja' | 5 to 6 feet | 5 to 6 feet | Deep Purplish Red | Dark Red | Partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Cold Hardy Pink' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Vivid Purplish Red | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' | 2 to 3 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Vivid Reddish Purple | Light Purple | Full sun |
Salvia x 'Celestial Blue' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia amplexicaulis | 1 to 2 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Light Purple | Deep Purple | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia recognita | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia microphylla 'Honey Rose' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Vivid Reddish Orange | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x jamensis 'Tangerine Ballet' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Reddish Orange | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Tweedia caerulea | 2 to 3 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia greggii 'Salmon' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Deep Yellowish Pink | Moderate Purplish Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia VIBE® 'Ignition White' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Pale Yellowish Green | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea x 'David Verity' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea x 'Kristen's Delight' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea micropetala | 1 to 2 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Agastache x 'Ava' | 3 to 4 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Agastache x 'Kudos Coral' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Agastache x 'Kudos Mandarin' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Leonotis leonurus | 6 feet plus | 5 to 6 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Cuphea schumannii | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea 'Minnie Mouse' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea 'Strybing Sunset' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia 'Dancing Dolls' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Pale Orangish Yellow | Light Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia 'Fancy Dancer' | 1 to 2 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia 'Orchid Glow' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Vivid Reddish Purple | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x sylvestris 'Wild Form' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Brilliant Violet | Moderate Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea aff. aequipetala | 1 to 2 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea nelsonii | 1 to 2 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Anisacanthus wrightii 'Select Red' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Anisacanthus wrightii 'Pumpkin Orange' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia coccinea 'Snow Nymph' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Yellowish white | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia coccinea 'Lady in Red' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Reddish Orange | Dark Purple | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel Pink' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Strong Yellowish Pink | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Lobelia laxiflora var angustifolia | 3 to 4 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Leonotis nepetifolia | 6 feet plus | 5 to 6 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia elegans 'Freida Dixon' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia greggii 'Radio Red' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Vivid Red | Dark Red | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Grace Pink' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia coccinea 'Summer Jewel White' | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x 'Wendy's Wish' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Strong Purplish Red | Strong Yellowish Green | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea salvadorensis | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia BODACIOUS 'Rhythm and Blues' | 3 to 4 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Vivid Violet | Dark Grayish Purple | Full sun to partial shade |
Agastache 'Blue Boa' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |
Salvia elegans 'Elk Sonoran Red' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Strong Red | Moderate Red | Full sun |
Salvia deserta | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x 'Big Blue' | 2 to 3 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea ignea | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x 'Elk Morning Sun' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia austriaca | 2 to 3 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x 'Elk Grape Ape' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia x 'Elk Smokey Grape' | 2 to 3 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea Hummingbird’s Lunch | 2 to 3 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea Blackberry Sparkler | 1 to 2 feet | 2 to 3 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia greggii 'Raspberry' | 2 to 3 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia BODACIOUS 'Hummingbird Falls' | 1 to 2 feet | 3 to 4 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Cuphea purpurea 'Firecracker' | 1 foot or less | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Salvia SALLYFUN™ Blue Lagoon | 1 to 2 feet | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun to partial shade |
Agastache x 'Poquito Butter Yellow' | 1 foot or less | 1 to 2 feet | Not yet defined * | Not yet defined * | Full sun |