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California Sage (Salvia californica)

California Sage
Californica flowers
Californica foliage
Californica habit

Overview

Salvia californica, the California Sage, is a shrubby perennial endemic to California and Baja California. It forms a dense, rounded mound of aromatic, gray-green leaves. In spring, it produces spikes of lavender-blue flowers. A key component of coastal sage scrub.

Taxonomy

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: californica

Culture

Full sun, well-drained soil, very drought tolerant. Grows 3–5 feet tall and wide. Hardy to zone 8. Excellent for California native gardens, erosion control, and fire-wise landscaping. Not for humid climates.

Salvias: Salvia greggii: Autumn Sage with Colorful Flowers for Dry Gardens; Salvia leucantha: Mexican Bush Sage with Velvety Purple and White Flowers; Salvia splendens: Scarlet Sage, the Classic Red Bedding Annual; Salvia madrensis: Forsythia Sage with Yellow Flowers; Salvia uliginosa: Bog Sage with Sky-Blue Flowers; Salvia pentstemonoides: Big Red Sage, a Rare Texas Native; Eyelash-Leaved Sage (Salvia blepharophylla); Snowflake Sage (Salvia chionophylla); Engelmann's Sage (Salvia engelmannii); Salvia napifolia (Turkish Sage)

Garden Articles

Chiapas Sage (Salvia chiapensis)

Fruit-Scented Sage (Salvia dorisiana)

Himalayan Cloud Sage (Salvia nubicola)

Buchanan's Sage (Salvia buchananii)

Blue Turkish Sage (Salvia cyanescens)

Wild Sage (Salvia muirii)

Chia (Salvia columbariae)

Plants

Wild Sage (Salvia hians)

Bolivian Sage (Salvia exserta)

Salvia caymanensis – Rare Cayman Island Sage

Salvia pratensis – Meadow Clary for Naturalistic Plantings

Salvia coahuilensis – Rare Coahuila Sage from Mexico

Salvia evansiana (Snow Mountain Sage)

Salvia scordifolia (Scordy Sage / Wild Sage)