1,742 bytes added
, 10:46, 26 July 2007
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Purple Sage
| image = Salvia_leucophylla.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Salvia]]''
| species = '''''S. leucophylla'''''
| binomial = ''Salvia leucophylla''
| binomial_authority = [[Edward Lee Greene|Greene]]
}}
'''''Salvia leucophylla''''' ('''Purple Sage''') is an [[aroma compound|aromatic]] [[Salvia|sage]] native to the southern coast of [[California]] and [[Baja California]], with a range stretching from [[Santa Maria, California|Santa Maria]] southward, at 50–800 m altitude.
It is a [[shrub]] growing up to 1.5 m tall on dry, open hillsides. The [[leaf|leaves]] are grayish [[tomentose]], 2-8 cm long, with a rugose (puckered) surface. The large [[inflorescence|spikes]] bear whorls of purple flowers, 6-13 mm long. The flowers are highly aromatic and attract a variety of [[bird]]s and [[insect]]s.
===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 [[cultivar]]s include:
*''Salvia leucophylla'' 'Pt. Sal'
*''Salvia leucophylla'' 'Figueroa'
*''Salvia leucophylla'' 'Amethyst Bluff'
==External links==
*[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Salvia+leucophylla Jepson Flora Project: ''Salvia leucophylla'']
*[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?text_only=0&display1=image+ID+num&where-calrecnum=7310 Images from the CalPhoto archives:]
[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]
[[Category:Flora of Baja California]]
{{Lamiales-stub}}