Community Favorite: Spanish sage
21.05.12
This is one in a weekly series featuring the UC Davis Community Favorites, 75 can't-fail, easy-care plants well-adapted to our region and recommended by local gardeners.
Spanish sage
Salvia lavandulifolia
Size: Under 2 feet tall
Bloom season: Late spring, summer
Exposure: Full sun
Pruning needs: Little or none; cut off spent flower stems to keep plant tidy
Water needs: Once the plant is established, water deeply every two weeks
Snapshot: This pretty and compact sage forms a low carpet of downy, silvery gray foliage that adds texture and sparkle to the dry garden.
Its pale lavender 1-inch blooms form loose whorls that hummingbirds can't resist.
A native of rocky terrain in Spain, this sage has a stronger flavor and aroma than common garden sage. Spanish cooks love its intensity. This sage also is popular for scenting soaps and potpourri. More pluses: It's deer resistant and hardy to 20 degrees. That makes it a great choice for foothill gardens. You can see specimens in the arboretum's Ruth Risdon Storer Garden of Valley-Wise Plants and the Mediterranean garden on the UC Davis campus.
Source: Sacramento Bee