Xeriscape Landscaping Plants For The Arizona Desert Environment
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Perennials

Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha

Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha

Velvet Sage, Salvia clevelandii	Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha
Velvet Sage, Salvia clevelandii White Flower Emerges	Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha White Flower Emerges
Velvet Sage Leaves	Salvia leucantha Flowers

Mexican Bush Sage Salvia leucantha, Lamiaceae Family: ( Lamiaceae ) , Mexican Bush Sage. Also called: Velvet Sage. Mexican Bush Sage is a fast growing, perennial, medium size shrub. It can be used as a xeriscape plant in hot, dry areas. It is good for hummingbird and butterfly gardens Velvet Sage is especially well adapted to hot, desert-like areas. It has a long period of bloom. Salvia leucantha needs some shade in the summer afternoon. It will bloom from mid to late summer until frost when it will die back to the ground. In warmer climates, like Phoenix, it may stay evergreen. In this situation, cutting it back to the ground once a year in the fall is recommended. Mexican bush sage has graceful arching stems and soft downy foliage. The fuzzy purple calyces persist even after the actual flowers have fallen off, making Mexican bush sage an excellent plant for use as a cut flower. Height: 3 - 4 feet tall, spread to 3 feet. Flowers: White flowers 1/2 inch long that extends from velvet - purple or lavender - blue calyces. The bicolored inflorescences are borne in elongated arching clusters 6 - 12 inches in length at the ends of erect, spreading stems. Blooming Time: Mid March - October. Leaves: Leaves are lance shaped, 11/2 inches long, white-wooly underneath. They are on petioles about an inch long and arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. Found: Native of Central to South America. Elevation: 0 - 2,500 Feet. Habitat: Desert soil, rock, does well in loose soil on slopes. Miscellaneous: Excellent Xeriscape Landscaping Plant. Flowering Photos Taken March 27, 2006. Peoria.