Salvia mellifera

A spring-flowering evergreen shrub with a fresh and spicy scent. Reaches 3-6' high x 6-8' wide. Drought tolerant when established; needs no summer water in most areas. An excellent plant for quickly covering dry sunny slopes & providing erosion control. Many small birds and quail like to eat the seeds and the light blue to lavender flowers provide nectar that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, & native bees. Black sage is said by bee keepers to be one of the best nectar sources for honeybees. Native to California and is found only slightly beyond California borders. Many small birds and quail like to eat the seeds and the light blue to lavender flowers provide nectar that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, & native bees. Spanish settlers used black sage in sausage. Found in common on dry slopes and benches. Communitites located in Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral Between 0 and 3900'.

BLACK SAGE - Native of the San Jose Baja area. Likes very well drained semi-dry soil, thus it is very drought tolerant and deer resistant. Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The foliage has a very pleasing fragrance. Whorls of lt blue to white flowers along the stems from March to July. Likes sun, grows 3-6' tall and is hardy in zone 7-11

Got drought? Don’t we all! Miss the honeybees? Boy, do we ever! Here’s a plant that helps with both predicaments: Salvia mellifera. A simply fabulous habitat plant that provides sustenance to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, & quail & it tolerates drought, clay soil, sandy soils, full sun, & is deer resistant! Easy to grow, & the foliage has a pleasant & strong smell that makes me think of backpacking. The flowers range from light blue to white, & are held in whorls along the blooming stems. Grows 3’-6 tall, & is about as wide as high. Bloom time comes in Spring. Once established, you should withhold summer water, as this will prolong the life of the plant.