The bureau, information central for 46 seed companies, has named '99 as the Year of the Salvia. Colors range from red, scarlet, salmon, purple and lilac to deep and light blue, white and bicolors. Salvias are found most everywhere in the world. Members of the mint family, they area easily recognized by their square stems and opposite pairs of leaves, which are usually velvety or hairy. One of the most familiar salvias is the perennial common garden sage - Salvia officinalis.
Many salvias are tender perennials usually grown as annuals.
Plant salvias outdoors when the air and soil are warm. Transplant on a cloudy day or late afternoon so the plants settle before they have to deal with the drying sun. Set salvias in the soil at the same level or slightly below the level they were growing in the pots. To use Salvia splendens in the garden, plant young bedding plants next to a shrub border for a green background. They are mostly trouble-free plants but need water during dry spells.