Carried by 51 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Purple sage (Salvia leucophylla) is a fast-growing evergreen shrub that can become a mounding form up to five feet tall, or a spreading form up to 10 feet wide and only 2 feet tall, which makes a great ground cover. The leaves are gray green and in spring and summer large spikes bear whorls of purple flowers with a strong scent.
Purple sage grows in full sun and is amazingly drought-tolerant but can take light water up to twice per month in the summer, which will keep it looking a little greener. Though it prefers well-draining soil, it is tough and easy to grow.
The highly aromatic flowers attract a variety of birds and insects, with several butterflies and moths hosted.
Shrub
2 - 5 ft Tall
3 - 10 ft Wide
Mounding, Rounded, Spreading
Fast
Evergreen, Summer Semi-deciduous
Pleasant
Purple, Lavender, Pink
Spring, Summer
Bank stabilization, Groundcover, Hedge
Full Sun
Extremely Low, Very Low
Max 2x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 0 - 10° F
Fast, Medium
Variable.
Soil PH: 5 - 8
For propagating by seed: No treatment.
8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Dry open slopes
Coastal Sage Scrub
Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii), California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum var. fasciculatum), Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia)
Butterflies and moths supported
1 confirmed and 8 likely
Alfalfa Looper Moth
Autographa californica
Climbing Cutworm
Abagrotis orbis
Bilobed Looper Moth
Megalographa biloba