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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Lamiaceae
|familia=Lamiaceae
|genus=Salvia
|genus=Salvia
|species=spathacea
|species=spathacea
|common_name=Crimson sage, Hummingbird sage, Pitcher sage
|common_name=Crimson sage, Hummingbird sage, Pitcher sage
|exposure=sun, part-sun
|exposure=sun, part-sun
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|sun_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|features=flowers
|features=evergreen, flowers, hummingbirds
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_season=early spring, mid spring, late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|flower_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=11
|max_zone=11
|image=Upload.png
|image=Hummingbird sage.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_width=200
}}
}}
'''''Salvia spathacea''''' ('''Pitcher Sage''' or '''[[Hummingbird sage]]''') is a herbaceous plant species with woody bases and a somewhat sprawling habit with upright flowering stems. Its a member of the large ''Salvia'' or [[Salvia|sage]] genus in [[Lamiaceae]], or the mint family. This fruity scented ''Salvia'' blooms in March to May with typically dark rose-lilac colored flowers. It is native to southern and central [[California]] found growing from sea level to 2,000 feet and is cultivated in gardens for its attractive flowering spikes and pleasant scent.
The [[genus]] ''salvia'', or the sages, with approximately 900 [[species]] is a large group of plants with a worldwide distribution but most species are found in tropical and subtropical [[Americas]].
The Pitcher sage is found in the [[Pacific Coast Ranges|California coast ranges]] from the [[Sacramento Valley]] south to the [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] area to the south. A common species that grows on open or shady slopes in [[oak]] woodland, [[chaparral]], and coastal sage scrub. It is commonly found in [[oak]] woodlands, in moist [[soil]]s not far from the [[Pacific Ocean]].
''S. spathacea'' is an evergreen, [[perennial plant|perennial]] with [[herbaceous]] flowering stems from a [[subshrub|woody]] base, growing from 0.3 to 1.5 meters (1-3 feet) tall. When not flowering plants grow less than .5 m (4 to 12 inches) tall forming clumps of sprawling foliage. Unlike most sages, the flowering stems are produced singularly from each plant and only rarely branch. It spreads by [[rhizomes]] and can form colonies up to 1.3 m. in diameter. Like many species in the mint family it has very pronounced square [[Plant stem|stems]], and the entire plant is covered with wavy glandular hairs.
Its bright green [[Leaf|leaves]] are 8-20 cm. long, and highly aromatic when crushed or touched. They are oblong to almost [[arrowhead]]-shaped at the base, and can be puckered with wrinkles, and have rounded teeth at the leaf edges. Like the rest of the plant, they are covered with hairs which make the plant soft to the touch. The hairs tend to be denser on the bottom surface of the leaves.
The [[flower]]s are produced in clustered whorled [[inflorescence]]s 15-30 cm long and 6 cm diameter on spike-like stems with each node on the top half of the stem having flowers. The inflorescences are subtended by showy [[bracts]] which can be ruby red to dark maroon or brown. The [[sepal|calyx]] is 1.5 to 3 cm. long. It is two-lipped, with the upper lip entire, or unlobed. Each [[Corolla (flower)|corolla]] is tubular and 2.5-3.5 cm. long, with 2 lips. The upper lip of the corolla is 7-8 mm., with two shallow lobes, while the lower lip is longer, 10-12 mm. The two fertile [[stamens]] are attached to the corolla tube. The [[carpel|style]] is forked. Both the style and the stamens protrude outside the corolla tube. Flowers vary in color from green through light pink and magenta to purple.
The [[fruits]] are 4 nutlets, dark brown to black in color. They are round to ovate, with a length of 3.5 to 6.5 mm.
As the alternative common name suggests, they are used by feeding [[hummingbird]]s and will attract them to the garden.
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
''Salvia spathacea'' is easy to grow in the garden, and is a very useful groundcover for dry shade under oaks. Unlike other California native ''Salvia'', it spreads from underground rhizomes. It will also grow in the open, in ordinary garden soil, in part or even full sun. Supplemental water can help encourage a longer flowering season, but a late summer rest from watering is desirable.
===Propagation===
===Propagation===
It easily propagates by seeds or [[rhizome]]s. Seeds should be collected as early as possible, or they can be predated by [[insects]].
===Pests and diseases===
===Pests and diseases===
''S. spathacea'' can get powdery mildew, which can be treated with a spray of [[milk]] diluted in water. [[Deer]] and [[Gopher (animal)|gophers]] generally leave this strongly aromatic plant alone.
==Varieties==
==Varieties==
Several [[cultivars]] exist although some selections are stronger than others. One showy cultivar is "Confetti," which has both yellow and pink flowers on the same plant. The more robust cultivars include "Powerline Pink," with magenta to crimson flowers, which will grow in hot sun, even inland, and "Avis Keedy," which has light yellow flowers.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==