Look around and you may see the light green ferny foliage of California Poppies sprouting, or California Buckwheat seedlings emerging in loose soil. These volunteers are a delight, and their appearance means the time is right to start a selection of the many native Sages, or Salvias, as their genus is known. The combination of warm soil, seasonal rains and milder sunlight means plant now to get a head start on establishing a good root system before next summer’s heat. Sages are members of the mint family, and as a group share some characteristics that make them terrific in the garden: aromatic foliage; showy, pollinator favorite flowers; and deer resistance. Here are some drought tolerant selections to add to your landscape:
Hummingbird Sage – A low spreader which grows up to a foot tall, it appreciates afternoon shade. The magenta flowers are sweetly strawberry scented and are eagerly sought out by hummers.
Cleveland Sages – Very fragrant, clean scented 3′ – 4′ shrubs bloom in late spring with fantastical, stacked pom-poms of blue-purple flowers. Choose from: ‘Pozo Blue’ is neatly rounded with purple-blue flowers; ‘Winnifred Gilman’ has darker blue-violet flowers and is a true blue sage; ‘Allen Chickering’ has gray green foliage and lavender flowers.
White Sage – Gleaming silver white foliage and white to pale pink flowers are hallmarks of this scented favorite used for incense. Bees are particularly attracted to it. A compact selection grows to 2 ft.
‘Bee’s Bliss’ – Lavender blue flowers crown this low mounding shrub in spring. Leaves are somewhat fuzzy. This is a great selection to drape over a wall.
Follow us in Social Media
