Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage)

Botanical name: Salvia leucantha

Common names: Mexican Bush Sage, Mexican Sage, Velvet Sage

Origin: Central America, Mexico

Mexican bush sage is an evergreen shrubby perennial prized for its fragrant foliage and dense, arching spikes producing an attractive late summer bloom of showy flowers. The plant feels soft and hairy to the touch, and the bi-color blooms include white corollas and purple calyces. In the fall, you can expect to see lovely cascades of velvety purple flowers that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators and wildlife.

Native to Central America and Mexico, it can be grown as an annual that typically rises to about two to three feet tall within one growing season. Flowers are about 10" long and extend above its soft green foliage, which has a slight silvery tint. Its gray-green leaves have a velvet-like texture and grown on pairs on square stems.

Generally considered to be a low-maintenance plant, it requires only routine care to thrive within any home garden.The Mexican bush sage makes an excellent companion plant for mixed beds and gardens, and it also makes gorgeous, long-lasting additions to floral arrangements. When first planting, choose a sunny location and begin in the early spring. Soil should be fertile and well-drained, and a one-inch layer of aged manure can be incorporated into the soil to promote its best growth.