: any of a large and widely distributed genus (Salvia) of herbs and shrubs of the mint family having a 2-lipped open calyx and two anthers
especially
: one (S. splendens) with scarlet flowers
Examples of salvia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The plant expert advises selecting plants that will attract pollinators like salvia for hummingbirds and milkweed for monarch butterflies.
—
Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 June 2025
Salvia discolor: Rare in cultivation, this unusual Peruvian salvia is popular with hummingbirds and is a drought-tolerant choice for the garden.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024
The temperature was in the 90s in West Hills, but that didn’t deter an astonishing number of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and bees from feeding on the California-friendly plants — sages, salvias and flowering milkweed — in Eric Augusztiny’s front yard.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024
There are also a few types of annuals that fall into this group including snapdragon, angelonia, lantana, annual salvias, and verbena.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023
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Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 2 June 2025
Salvia discolor: Rare in cultivation, this unusual Peruvian salvia is popular with hummingbirds and is a drought-tolerant choice for the garden.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024
The temperature was in the 90s in West Hills, but that didn’t deter an astonishing number of monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and bees from feeding on the California-friendly plants — sages, salvias and flowering milkweed — in Eric Augusztiny’s front yard.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024
There are also a few types of annuals that fall into this group including snapdragon, angelonia, lantana, annual salvias, and verbena.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 19 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for salvia
Cite this Entry
“Salvia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/salvia. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
salvia
noun
sal·via
ˈsal-vē-ə 
1
capitalized
: a genus of widely distributed herbs or shrubs of the mint family (Labiatae) including the sage (S. officinalis)
2
: any herb or shrub of the genus Salvia
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