Salvia x sylvestris cultivars are believed to be related to Salvia nemorosa and consequently share a lot of characteristics with their parent.
They are frost hardy herbaceous perennials and are a popular choice for borders in Northern Europe. The brightly coloured flowers make a wonderfully colourful display from the middle of spring to mid-summer particularly when planted en masse.
The erect stems grow from a central crown to about a metre in height and spread to about 0.5m. The wrinkled leaves are grey-green in colour and grow in pair along the lower stems giving the plant a bushy feel. The flowers are borne in closely spaced whorls along the upper stems, above the leaves.
There are many cultivars and the flower colours vary from whites and pinks to purple and violets.