Native Salvias for Southern California

Fragrant and drought tolerant, these shrubs and perennials are pollinator magnets and a perfect fit for every garden

In outflow , many of our wild outer space are in bloom , and many of those flowering plants are native salvias ( Salviaspp . and cvs . , zone 5–11 ) that can be easily incorporate into the home garden . The chaparral and coastal - salvia scrub - plant communities that these plants belong to are hum with native pollinators , and your garden will be too . These plant also tender typical bouquet , drought tolerance , sheer foliation , and long flowering periods . head for the hills to your local native works nursery to enquire about some of these California - native salvias for your garden .

Cleveland sage

Salvia clevelandii , zone 9–11

This shrub is all about redolence and heavy florescence . The fragrance screams “ Southern California . ” Reliable and adaptable in garden configurations , Cleveland salvia can tolerate a motley of ground weather condition . It generally reaches about 4 groundwork tall and 4 ft wide and is a magnet for native pollinator , especially butterflies . It is such a elated garden summation that I always recommend it ; it can work with any trend of garden .

White sage

Salvia apiana , Zones 8–10

clean sage is aboriginal to the coastal - sage scrub home ground of Southern California and will wow you with its fragrance and coloured foliage . Bumblebees and hummingbirds adore it , and the white leaf is striking to view during day or dark . It loves full sun , grows to 5 foot tall and 5 animal foot wide , and prefers well - run out soil . Water well the first twelvemonth before establishment and infrequently after that . Be certain to buy your plant from a reliable agriculturalist ; aboriginal populations have been overforaged in the wild by people collect foliation to make blot pin .

Black sage

Salvia mellifera , Zones 8–10

This aboriginal salvia ’s chain is encompassing , from San Jose down to Baja . It has dismal flowers and gray-headed foliage and is a great candidate for wearing ascendence . It thrives in full Sunday , blooming from spring all the way to fall with extreme drouth tolerance . It also tolerates a wide image of soil type , even cadaver , growing 3 foot magniloquent and 3 feet wide . If you happen to have quail or other birds in your garden , they love to feed the germ and will find protective cover under the foliation .

Purple sage

Salvia leucophylla , zone 8–11

One of the large sage in our region , purple sage can reach up to 6 foot grandiloquent with regular irrigation . It ’s an evergreen plant shrub that rise from Santa Maria south into Baja . The gray - unripened leaf and purple flower are striking . Add it to your garden only if you have the space to let it gleam . It appears in nature on ironic slopes , so it ’s a great candidate for erosion ascendance . Purple sage is tolerant of clay soil and does best in full sun . A particularly striking variety is ‘ Figueroa ’ , which is aboriginal to the mountains near Santa Barbara . The foliage on this sage is very white and digest out at night .

Hummingbird sage

Salvia spathacea , zona 8–11

Finally , a sage for the tone — mottled shade for best resultant ! This hummingbird attractor is a welcome addition to any garden but is especially appropriate under oaks ( Quercusspp . and cvs . , zone 3–11 ) . It have a go at it wry shade with fast - draining land and spreads by rhizomes . This means it will stay on to scatter underground and eventually will create a dependency of plants . Hummingbird sage only reaches about 2 feet tall with blossom spikes , so it maintains a depressed visibility . The Battle of Magenta flowers are unique and are pasty with oils that are very fragrant . This sage is absolutely a California necessity !

— Cara Hanstein is a drumhead gardener at the Huntington Library , Art Museum , and Botanical Gardens in San Marino , California .

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Allen Chickering salvia

‘Allen Chickering’ salvia (Salvia‘Allen Chickering’, Zones 8–11) is a hybrid between Cleveland sage and purple sage that is super drought tolerant.Photo: Cara Hanstein

Cleveland sage