Salvia leucantha

Salvia leucantha, commonly called Mexican bush sage, is an evergreen shrubby perennial native to Central America and Mexico. This sage is most noted for producing a beautiful late summer to frost bloom of showy bicolor flowers consisting of white corollas and longer-lasting funnel-form purple calyces. Flowers appear in dense, arching, terminal spikes (racemes to 10” long) that extend above the foliage. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Linear, lance-shaped, gray-green leaves (to 4” long) are borne in pairs on square stems. The foliage has a velvet-like texture, hence the sometimes used common name of velvet sage for this species.

Winter hardy to USDA Zones 8-10. It tolerates some light afternoon shade but generally is best in full sun. It also takes some drought but does best with regular moisture. Purchase potted plants in spring or start seed indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost date. Set out seedlings or purchased plants after a later spring frost date. Propagate by seed or by overwintering cuttings taken in late summer.

Height: 4’-6’
Spread: 4’-6’
Bloom: August-November
Light: Full Sun
Water: Moderate
Zone:  8, 9, 10
Origin: Mexico