The flowers of Purple Sage are actually more pink than purple, and lovely against the silvery foliage of this evergreen shrub. Purple Sage needs full sun and good drainage. It is tolerant of clay soil, and needs very little water once established. This salvia is great for use on slopes. The highly scented leaves of most Salvias are distasteful to the deer.
Salvia leucophylla blooms from March to May, and provides nectar for hummingbirds, bees and butterflies. Ground feeding birds appreciate the cover created by the shrub, and relish the seeds produced in late summer.
‘Pt. Sal’ has a prostrate form; a mature plant is 2 to 3 feet high with a spread of 6 to 7 feet. ‘Figueroa’ has a compact upright shape; reaching 3 to 4 feet tall, with a spread of about 3 feet.