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Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Salvia clevelandii (Fragrant sage)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Salvia clevelandii (Gray) Greene

Fragrant sage, Blue sage, Cleveland sage

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

USDA Symbol: sacl

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A fragrant, rounded subshrub, 3-4 ft. tall and 4-6 ft. wide, with a heavy bloom of dark blue-violet flowers. Fragrant, wrinkled, gray leaves are sometimes used in cooking in place of the European garden sage.

Leaves are sometimes used in cooking in place of the European garden sage. Flowers attract bees and hummingbirds.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Fruit:
Size Class: 3-6 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: CA
Native Distribution: S. CA to adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry slopes below 3000 ft.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Description: Well-drained sands & gravels.
Conditions Comments: Prune off old flower stalks in fall.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: May be propagated by seed sown outdoors in early fall.
Seed Collection: Collect the seeds as the capsules begin to dry but before they have dropped the seeds. Spread seeds in thin layers to dry a few days before storing in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Salvia clevelandii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Salvia clevelandii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Salvia clevelandii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-04-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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