Zone 5 · winter lows -20°F to -10°F

Salvia for Zone 5

68 Salvia varieties rated hardy through Zone 5, ranked by how many gardeners actually grow them. Zone 5 is classic northern gardening with a reliable snow blanket.

68 hardy hereof 171 Salvia totalLast frost ~early May

The Salvia that thrive in Zone 5

#1 most saved

May Night Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'

Zones 4–9· 358 saves· from $6

#2 most saved

Celestial Blue Sage Wood Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Celestial Blue'

Zones 4–8· 149 saves

#3 most saved

Marcus Woodland Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'

Zones 4–8· 132 saves· from $13

White Profusion Salvia

Salvia x hybrida 'White Profusion'

Zones 4–9· 126 saves

Lyrical Blues Salvia

Salvia x hybrida 'Lyrical Blues'

Zones 4–9· 113 saves

Rose Marvel Sage

Salvia nemerosa 'Rose Marvel'

Zones 4–9· 111 saves· from $7

Bumbleblue Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Bumbleblue'

Zones 4–8· 110 saves

May Night Sage

Salvia x hybrida 'Mainacht'

Zones 4–9· 109 saves

Caradonna Sage Nemorosa Sage Meadow Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Zones 4–7· 106 saves· from $6

Sensation Rose Salvia

Salvia x sylvestris 'Sensation Rose'

Zones 4–8· 105 saves

Salvia New Dimension Rose

Salvia x sylvestris 'New Dimension Rose'

Zones 4–8· 102 saves

Violet Profusion Meadow Sage

Salvia x hybrida 'Violet Profusion'

Zones 4–8· 97 saves

Whorled Sage

Salvia verticillata

Zones 4–8· 95 saves

Purple Sage

Salvia officialis 'Burgundy'

Zones 5–8· 93 saves

Salvia Crystal Blue

Salvia x hybrida 'Crystal Blue'

Zones 4–8· 92 saves· from $15

Blue Marvel Salvia

Salvia x hybrida 'Blue Marvel'

Zones 4–9· 89 saves· from $13

Azure Snow Salvia

Salvia x hybrida 'Azure Snow'

Zones 4–9· 88 saves· from $15

Perfect Profusion Meadow Sage

Salvia x hybrida 'Perfect Profusion'

Zones 4–8· 88 saves

Hybrid Sage

Salvia x superba

Zones 4–9· 87 saves

Mealy Sage Blue Bedder

Salvia farinacea 'Blue Bedder'

Zones 4–9· 87 saves

Rose Queen Meadow Sage

Salvia x sylvestris 'Rose Queen'

Zones 4–9· 87 saves

Pink Delight Salvia

Salvia x hybrida 'Pink Delight'

Zones 4–8· 85 saves

Pink Profusion Salvia

Salvia nemorosa 'Pink Profusion'

Zones 4–8· 83 saves· from $13

Blue Hill Sage

Salvia x hybrida 'Blue Hill'

Zones 4–8· 83 saves· from $6

Showing the 24 most-saved of 68 Zone 5–hardy Salvia varieties. See the full Salvia list →

Salvia in Zone 5

Will Salvia survive a Zone 5 winter?

68 of the 171 Salvia varieties in the Sow catalog are rated hardy through Zone 5, where winter lows reach -20°F to -10°F. Hardiness is per-variety, not per-genus — the plants listed above are the ones that hold up; others in the genus are not rated for this zone.

When should I plant Salvia in Zone 5?

In Zone 5 the last spring frost typically lands around early May and the first fall frost around early October. Planting after the last frost — or in early fall, so roots establish before the ground cools — gives the best establishment. Each plant page lists its own planting months.

Which Salvia is best for Zone 5?

Start at the top of the list above: it is ranked by how many gardeners actually save and grow each variety, which is a strong real-world reliability signal. Then narrow by your sun exposure and the mature size that fits the bed.

Keep exploring

All Salvia

Every Salvia variety (171)

Salvia in other zones

More for Zone 5

See Salvia in your Zone 5 yard

Snap a photo of your space and Sow places these varieties in it at true mature size — then keeps the care schedule for everything you plant.