Salvia clevelandii

USA (southern California). Full Sun. Fragrant Indigo Blue Blossoms. Outdoor.

A lovely native shrub to 4' with an equal spread and a handsome rounded form. Graceful, arching branches sweep the ground and offer flowering spikes to 12" with whorls of fragrant blue flowers appearing in May or June. Ashy green foliage is heavily wrinkled and has a strong resinous fragrance. Best used in full sun with good air circulation. Requires infrequent water once established. Consider replacing every three to five years for a fresher appearance. Hardy to 20F. Commonly found in the coastal scrub and chaparral communities of Southern California and Northern Baja.

Probably the most desirable of all native Salvias for its at­tractive color, form & most of all, for its delectable foliar fragrance, which I find very sexy – even at my age – ha! Blooming May & June, its hummingbird-magnet, tubular flowers are held in whorls atop the 3’ x 3’ nicely rounded form. Upright in growth, it makes an outstanding filler in a dry garden & works very well as the backbone of a difficult garden site. Now here’s the thing – Mr. Clevelandii requires excellent drainage or he gets cranky – so plant him on a slope or provide most excellent drain­age. These plants are grown from seedlings of the cultivar ‘Winifred Gilman’ selected for its compact growth & colorful flowers. Deer resistant. Drought tolerant.