Plant of the Month: November 2013
0Velvet Sage, Mexican Bush Sage
Salvia leucantha
Velvet Sage lends beautiful color to fall and early winter gardens — attracting hummingbirds and human admirers.
- Plant Form: Flowering Perennial
- Water Use: Low – Moderate
- Mature Size: 4’ tall and wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: March – November
- Native to: Mexico, Central America
- Hardiness: Cold Hardy to 20°F
Velvet Sage is a graceful mounding shrub that is striking alone or planted in masses. Long, slender spikes of white or purple flowers encased in velvety purple bracts grace the soft branch tips from late summer into fall or early winter. Interesting combination of densely white-pubescent stems and olive-green leaves is attractive. While this drought-tolerant plant likes full sun, it appreciates afternoon shade and deep, infrequent irrigation in summer. Cut plants back after flowering or frost-damage in late winter to keep bushy and stimulate new branches from the roots in spring. Keep in mind Velvet Sage’s pattern of dying back in frost and bouncing back in spring when deciding where to plant this summer beauty. Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
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