Consulta Plantas

Care of the shrub Salvia leucantha or Mexican Bush Sage

The genus Salvia, family Lamiaceae, comprises 1,000 species of shrubs and herbaceous plants native to Asia, Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Central and South America. Some species are: Salvia leucantha, Salvia lanceolata, Salvia guaranitica, Salvia greggii, Salvia farinacea, Salvia disermas, Salvia canariensis, Salvia aurea, Salvia apiana, Salvia africana, Salvia scabra, Salvia namaensis, Salvia microphylla, Salvia mexicana, Salvia splendens, Salvia vaseyi, Salvia leucophylla, Salvia sclarea, Salvia mellifera, Salvia nemorosa, Salvia officinalis, Salvia fruticosa, Salvia elegans.

Common names: Mexican Bush Sage, Velvet Sage. This species is native to Mexico.

They are evergreen aromatic shrubs that reach 1 meter (3.28 feet) in height. The leaves are dark grayish green in color and have a lanceolate shape, opposite arrangement, velvety texture and very marked veins. The showy tubular flowers, blue and white or violet and white, appear in whorls that tend to slope slightly. They can bloom in fall and early winter and again in late spring and early summer.

They are used to form bushy groups, in borders and in pots and planters.

Salvia leucantha prefers full sun exposure but also grows in semi-shade. They resist occasional frosts but it's better that the winter temperature does not drop below 5 ºC (41 ºF).

They grow best in light, well-drained soils that contain organic matter.

Water moderately all year long, waiting until the substrate has almost completely dried.

Fertilize in early spring with compost.

It's convenient to prune withered flowers and dry branches.

They are resistant plants to the habitual plagues and diseases but sensitive to the excess of irrigation.

They are propagated by cuttings in spring or summer and from seeds that need to be at a temperature of about 10-15 ºC (50-59 ºF) for a week before sowing.

Images of the shrub Salvia leucantha or Mexican Bush Sage