Plant of the Month – June
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Rose Sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Gardeners love everything about this beautiful, aromatic sage native to southern California, from its show-stopping flowers to its aromatic foliage; hummingbirds and butterflies can’t resist it either.
- Plant Form: Evergreen Shrub
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall x 3-4 ft. wide
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Bloom Time: Late Spring – Summer (June – September)
- Native to: Southern California (5,000 – 10,000 feet elevation)
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F
Rose Sage may be one of the most beautiful and fragrant sages in California. Bluish-purple flowers emerge from giant rose-purple bracts (flower-like leaves) on stems rising up to a foot above the foliage from spring through summer. Aromatic, silvery-green, rubbery foliage lends beauty all year. This native of dry foothills and mountains of southern California attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to its showy flowers. Good drainage is essential for this shrub, which prefers full sun and tolerates some summer water. Prune lightly after flowering. While quickly gaining in popularity, it is still hard to find Rose Sage in nurseries unless they carry native plants. Because it is known by several names used for other sages, including Mojave Sage, Mountain Desert Sage, and Blue Sage, make sure you verify the botanical name before buying. Useful in beds and borders, and for erosion control on slopes.
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