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| Salvia leucophylla Greene | ||||||||||||||
Salvia leucophylla (Purple Sage) is an aromatic sage native to the southern coast of California and Baja California, with a range stretching from Santa Maria southward, at 50–800 m altitude.
It is a shrub growing up to 1.5 m tall on dry, open hillsides. The leaves are grayish tomentose, 2-8 cm long, with a rugose (puckered) surface. The large spikes bear whorls of purple flowers, 6-13 mm long. The flowers are highly aromatic and attract a variety of birds and insects.
Cultivation
The Purple Sage is widely used in xeriscaping and native plant landscaping in southern California. It is highly drought tolerant, becoming leggy if watered after it has become established.
Some cultivars include:
- Salvia leucophylla 'Pt. Sal'
- Salvia leucophylla 'Figueroa'
- Salvia leucophylla 'Amethyst Bluff'