Salvia mexicana
Common Names: Mexican sage
Family: Lamiaceae/Labiatae (mint Family)
Shrub Perennial Attracts Hummingbirds Attracts Butterflies Fast
Growing Has Unusual or Interesting Foliage Flowers
Mexican sage
Description
In warm climates, Mexican sage can get as big as 12 ft (3.7 m) tall
but in cultivation it usually maxes out around 5 ft (1.5 m) tall
with a spread of 3 ft (0.9 m). It has blue flowers and various calyx
colors. Mexican sage is highly variable in both leaf form and flower
details. This is a fall-blooming sage with nice form and rugged
character. The interesting foliage carry S. mexicana in the garden
until autumn when its late blooming period commences and it becomes
the star of the show. Unlike many of the salvias, Mexican sage does
not have a strong scent.
Location
Mexican sage is native to central Mexico where it occurs near the
edges of forests and in open woods.
Culture
Mexican sage thrives in high temperatures. It tolerates clayey
soils, but still requires good drainage.
Light: Mexican sage does best with morning sun and partial or
dappled shade at midday.
Moisture: Provide moderate water in hot climates. In the Austin,
Texas area Mexican sage does well with 1/2-1 in (1.3-2.5 cm) of
water per week in the summer. Growth continues even through very hot
summer periods as long as supplemental water is available.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8 - 11. S. mexicana can take some frost and
will freeze back to the ground as temperatures fall into the lower
20s (ºF). In areas with less frost and warmer temps it likely will
keep its foliage year round. In my south central TX garden S.
mexicana is rivaled only by S. involucrata and S. madrensis for
rapid growth as temperatures rise in the early spring. Mexican sage
can be grown as an annual in cooler climates. The cultivar 'Minor'
blooms earlier, and is therefore useful in cool climates.
Propagation: Propagate Mexican sage from tip cuttings taken in
summer. Mexican sage is easy to start from seed, but it may be hard
to find a seed source.
Usage
S. mexicana is good as a medium size shrub. It maintains a neat,
symmetric bush shape. It could be used as an understory plant or on
the edge of a wooded area. It is possible to plant smaller plants
underneath Mexican sage since its overall shape is uniform and it
does not spread out significantly.
Features
Mexican sage has beautiful dark blue flowers from late summer
through fall, depending on weather conditions. The cultivar,
'Limelight' has beautiful lime-green flower bracts which make for a
striking contrast. The leaves have nice white veining. The leaves
look much like those of the very tough and reliable 'Indigo Spires'
cultivar. Mexican sage, like most salvias, is very attractive to
butterflies and hummingbirds. |
