The New Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden

Salvia is derived from the Latin word salvare, "to heal," and for centuries salvias have been valued for their medicinal and culinary qualities. Salvias, commonly known as sages, grow throughout temperate and subtropical parts of the world, from sea level to altitudes of more than 11,000 feet (3400 meters). They occur in many forms: perennial, biennial, annual herbs, and evergreen or deciduous shrubs. These amazingly varied plants are also noteworthy for their remarkable resistance to pests and diseases, their drought tolerance--and their beautiful flowers. Following the great success of Betsy Clebsch's first book on salvias comes this expanded edition, The New Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden. Betsy has added more than 50 new species and cultivars such as Salvia castanea and S. recurva, bringing the total to approximately 150 beautiful, gardenworthy species and significant hybrids. She documents them alphabetically and includes botanical descriptions, information on habit, blooming cycle, recommended companion plants, and delightful historical tidbits of discovery and usage. Nearly 100 new photos and illustrations make this new edition even more attractive than its predecessor. In her ardent pursuit of salvias, Clebsch has explored the wild to collect plants and seeds to test in her California garden. The resulting wealth of cultural information in The New Book of Salvias ensures that our gardens will not only be exquisitely aromatic but also wonderfully picturesque.