Salvia leucantha is a dependable strong growing plant in the full sun, even when the soil is poor and the
water scarce. Every once in awhile I see a wimpy specimen of Salvia leucantha growing in the shade
and it reminds me of how poorly the Mexican Sage fares there. Mexican Sage gets to about 4 feet tall and wide.
I cut the Mexican Sage back nearly to the ground each Winter when the new white shoots show even at the coast because the new stems perform
so much better. Salvia leucantha is easily divided. Mexican Sage suffers when too much water is
applied and will sometimes rot out completely. Mexican Sage blooms from mid to late spring
through to frost or the moment I get them for their Winter shearing. Salvia
leucantha has survived temperatures in the mid teens but was slow coming back so I think that is close to the lower limit. The white
flowers poking out from the purple calyx is very pretty and the hummingbirds
consider this sage a major food source in any garden that they find it. There is also a variety with both calyx and flower that are purple
called 'midnight'. Click on the image to see the darker variety.Salvia leucantha is a great nectar source for the
Mournful Duskywing and the California Dogface Butterfly and is a nice addition to the
Butterfly Garden as well as the hummingbird
garden. In the last few seasons Salvia mexicana Limelight has
become quite popular and might also appropriately be called Mexican Sage.
