Flowers are tube-shaped with two lips, come in shades of pinks, scarlet, lavenders and true blue that give a long season of color, often from early spring to the first hard frost. Plants are low-maintenance and easy to grow, drought tolerant once established, and usually not bothered by insects and diseases. The name salvia, from the Latin salvere, means to be in good health, to cure, to save.

Commonly called sage, it is a powerful healing plant.