Salvia leucantha Santa Barbara is a new take on an old standard for the drought tolerant
garden. The Santa Barbara Mexican Sage is intermediate in flower
color between the white Species and the purple Midnight cultivar.
Salvia leucantha does poorly in heavy soils unless the plants are allowed
to dry out between irrigation cycles. The Santa Barbara Mexican Sage
grows to 3-4 feet tall and slowly spreads a few inches each way each
season. Salvia leucantha Santa Barbara does best in full sun but
will still bloom in light to moderate shade. I cut the plants nearly
to the ground in late Fall or early Winter when the plants start too look
too ragged. I often do this in stages if the hummingbirds are using
this late bloomer so they will still have something to eat from the
garden. Salvia leucantha Santa Barbara 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. The plants will be frosted to the ground when
temperatures drop into the mid 20°s F. Salvia leucantha Santa Barbara
will survive in the ground when well mulched through the low to mid teens.
High resolutions photos of of Salvia leucantha Santa Barbara are part of our garden image collection.
