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Salvia leucophylla (Purple Sage)

San Luis Purple Sage, Purple Sage, Gray Sage

Salvia leucophylla, San Luis Purple Sage, Purple Sage, Native Sage

Tough, easy to grow, and good-looking year-round, Salvia leucophylla (Purple Sage) is a graceful semi-evergreen shrub of mounding, spreading habit with arching branches adorned with upturned tips. It boasts brilliant purple flowers in large, tightly stacked whorls from mid-spring to early summer. The highly aromatic blossoms are very attractive to bees, butterflies, and a variety of birds. They are borne atop the lush foliage of soft, wrinkled, gray-green leaves. Both stems and leaves are richly covered with fine white hairs. Incredibly drought tolerant, Purple Sage is also heat and poor soil tolerant. It makes a pretty silver foliage accent in the dry, native plant garden.

  • Grows up to 3-5 ft. tall and wide (90-150 cm).
  • Thrives in full sun in well-drained soils. Provide little to occasional irrigation (once or twice a month) after the first year. Drought tolerant once established.
  • Easy to grow, fairly pest and disease free, it attracts bees and butterflies but is deer resistant.
  • Perfect for beds and borders, bank stabilization, hedges, coastal gardens, or Mediterranean gardens.
  • Propagate by seed.
  • Native to the southern coast of California and Baja California.

Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide


Here are some tips on how to plant and grow salvia successfully

Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 11
Climate Zones 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Lamiaceae
Genus Salvia
Common names Sage, Purple Sage
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 3' - 5'
(90cm - 150cm)
Spread 3' - 5'
(90cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Semi-Evergreen
Native Plants California, United States
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Clay Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Salvia nemorosa ‘Perfect Profusion’ (Sage)
Salvia Skyscraper Pink (Sage)
Salvia ‘Little Kiss’ (Sage)
Salvia involucrata ‘Bethellii’ (Rosy-Leaf Sage)
Salvia Skyscraper Orange (Sage)
Salvia coccinea ‘Summer Jewel Red’ (Scarlet Sage)

Recommended Companion Plants

Eriogonum fasciculatum (California Buckwheat)
Encelia californica (California Brittlebush)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

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Salvia (Sage)
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Hummingbird
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Companion Planting With Herbs
Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects
Great Rose Companion Plants: Nepeta, Salvia and Lavandula
Hardy Perennial Salvias (Sage)
Salvia guaranitica (Blue Anise Sage)
Plants with Purple Flowers to Add Charm to Your Garden
Salvia: Plant Care and Growing Guide
Best Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds
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.
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Requirements

Hardiness 8 - 11
Climate Zones 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Shrubs
Plant Family Lamiaceae
Genus Salvia
Common names Sage, Purple Sage
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early)
Height 3' - 5'
(90cm - 150cm)
Spread 3' - 5'
(90cm - 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Semi-Evergreen
Native Plants California, United States
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Clay Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Banks And Slopes, Beds And Borders, Hedges And Screens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Salvia (Sage)
Guides with
Salvia (Sage)
Not sure which Salvia (Sage) to pick?
Compare Now

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