Alphabetical Plant Listing

Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage)

Mexican Bush Sage, Mexican Sage


Maybe one of the most attractive salvias, Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) is prized by gardeners for its ornamental and showy velvety flower spikes produced from late summer to first frost, when other summer plants have given hope of doing anything productive.

  • This evergreen shrubby perennial typically grows 4-6 ft. tall and wide (120-180 cm) in a wonderful display of very attractive, bicolor flowers consisting of soft purple sepals that create a lively contrast to the fuzzy white flowers. They rise in dense, arching spikes above the lance-shaped leaves, which are gray-green leaves on top and fuzzy white underneath.
  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society (1993)
  • Easy to grow, it thrives in full sun (but tolerates part shade) in average to rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils.
  • Perfectly suited for beds, borders or containers. Outstanding as cut flowers.
  • Loved by butterflies and hummingbirds but ignored by deer and rabbits!
  • Drought tolerant but does best with regular moisture.
  • Requires minimal care once established.
  • Cut old foliage to the ground in early spring
  • Native to Mexico.

Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide

Here are some tips on how to plant and grow salvia successfullyRead More

Not sure which Salvia - Sage to pick?
Compare All Salvia - Sage

Buy Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage)

Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 10
Heat Zones 4 – 12
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials, Shrubs
Plant Family Salvia - Sage
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm)
Spread 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm)
Spacing 48" – 72" (120cm – 180cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Salvia - Sage

Guides with Salvia - Sage


By Mary Lynn Strand/Shutterstock, Chanticleer Garden

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 10
Heat Zones 4 – 12
Climate Zones 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2
Plant Type Perennials, Shrubs
Plant Family Salvia - Sage
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm)
Spread 4' – 6' (120cm – 180cm)
Spacing 48" – 72" (120cm – 180cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Salt
Attracts Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers, Wall-Side Borders
Garden Styles Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Salvia - Sage

Guides with Salvia - Sage

Plant Calculator

How many Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.