Photo of Salvia sonomensis flower by Cistus Nursery

Photo by Cistus Nursery

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Salvia sonomensis

Also Known As

  • Creeping Sage
  • Sonoma Sage

Plant type

perennial, groundcover

size

  • H: 8"-12"
  • W: 3'-4'

planting zones

  • 8b-10b

More Options

Salvia sonomensis plant details

Salvia sonomensis is a broadleaf semi-evergreen perennial groundcover with blue and white foliage. In spring and summer purple flowers emerge. Features fuzzy and glaucous texture. Attracts bees, beneficial insects, butterflies and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with mostly sun - mostly shade and low water. Drought tolerant once established. Does well in gritty and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Salvia sonomensis

Plant type: perennial groundcover
Plant family: lamiaceae
Foliage: semi-evergreen blue and white
Mature size: 3 FT - 4 FT - wide, 8 IN - 12 IN - tall
Flowers: purple blooms in spring and summer
Uses: fragrant foliage, xeric, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Salvia sonomensis

USDA Zones: 8b - 10b
Sun exposure: mostly sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: low
Resistant to: deer
Soil needs: gritty and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This is a prostrate, semi-woody, herbaceous perennial ground cover 8-12" high x 3-4' wide. Fragrant, elliptical, dull green leaves and short spikes of blue-purple flowers attractive to bees. Creeping Sage commonly grows in clay that is very wet in winter, but dry in summer, so be careful not to over water during the hot, dry months. Mix with other sages for a moderately fast-growing, textured, aromatic ground cover or watch Sonoma Sage cascade beautifully over a garden wall. It's sprawling habit helps to stabilize clay slopes and rocky hillsides while its numerous flowers provide abundant nectar for native bees. A number of cultivars have been selected due to the variability in flower color and leaf shape. The leaves are reported to be a mild stimulant. Found in slopes. Communitites located in Chaparral, Northern Oak Woodland, Yellow Pine Forest Between 0 and 6500 feet.
Low-growing perennial that forms spreading mats to 12" high. Leaf shape and color are variable with blue flowers on erect 6" stems in spring and summer. Requires exceptionally good drainage and will not tolerate regular water or heavier soils. Good choice for light, dry shade. A little temperamental but in the right environment creeping sage is an exceptional groundcover. Infrequent water once established. Three distinct populations occur in California: the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, the Coast Ranges from Siskiyou County to Napa County, and from Monterey County to San Diego County. Hardy to 10F. California.
Hummingbirds freak out every Spring through early Summer for the profusion of 6" periwinkle blue spikes of bloomy goodness on this California native ground covering sage. Found on the dry slopes of the coastal ranges & in the Sierra foothills means regular Summer irrigation is a sure fire way to make this plant unhappy. It's super crazy DROUGHT TOLERANT. Spreading quickly to a fragrant? silvery 10' by 15' it loves to intermingle under other regular Summer water haters like Ceanothus, Manzanita, Ribes, or next to Mimulus & Monardella.? Well draining situations & part shade are ideal & necessary in hot inland locations.
Creeping sage spreads wide. Bright grey leaves with violet flowers. Ideal groundcover for steep hillsides. Hardy to 15°.

Gardening facts about Salvia sonomensis plant

How to Grow Salvia sonomensis

  • Sun Exposure

    • mostly sun - mostly shade
  • Water Needs

    • low - drought tolerant
  • Soil Needs

    • well-drained
    • gritty

Features

  • Foliage Color

    • white
    • blue
  • Flower Color

    • purple
  • Wildlife

    • beneficial insects
    • bees
    • butterflies
    • hummingbirds
    • deer resistant
  • Flower Season

    • summer
    • spring
  • Foliage Season

    • semi-evergreen
  • Texture

    • glaucous
    • fuzzy
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