Salvia hispanica

This Salvia is widespread in Southern Mexico and parts of Central America, where it is cultivated for its seeds, the oil of which is used for painting. The seeds are also used to make a drink. This is an annual species, and flowering will commence just 3 months after sowing seed. The plant grows to 3ft x 3ft. The only disadvantage of this Salvia is that the flowers are very small, though they are a good shade of blue. (Photo by Christian Froissart.)