A few words of sage advice

As most gardeners know, salvias are sun lovers. There are, however, a few ornamental sages that prefer a little shade. One of the more gorgeous is Salvia buchananii. This herbaceous perennial parades two features that make it a standout: Waxy dark green 2-inch leaves give the foliage a distinctively glossy appearance. This spring greenery is soon followed by fuzzy magenta tubular flowers, borne in small clusters at the tips of the branches. Salvia buchananii, a.k.a. Buchanan’s Sage, blooms all summer, continuing until the first frost. In warmer climates it can bloom until Christmas. Black stems add another point of interest.

Specimens reach a modest 18 to 24 inches tall and wide, making it easy to tuck in among other part shade-loving perennials. Its dazzling beauty also makes it ideal as a focal point in a container.

Even more than most Salvias, this species is a magnet for hummingbirds. Though hummers will go to any nectar-rich tubular flower, they are especially drawn to red, orange and, yes, magenta flowers. So don’t hide this gregarious fellow where hummers have to work to find it. You might notice a few butterflies hanging around as well.

Salvia buchananii has been in cultivation for 50 years but was only recently found growing in an oak thicket in the far northeastern part of the state of Querétaro, Mexico. The explanation for such an unusual history of cultivation is that seed from a garden plant in Mexico City was taken to England in about 1960, where it was grown by Sir Charles Buchanan, eventually finding its way into the trade.