Santa Rosa Island Sage

Salvia brandegeei

Native to:
Mexico, United States

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Lamiaceae
Genus:
Salvia
Species:
Salvia brandegeei
USDA Symbol:
SABR3

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Shrub , Subshrub
Height:
120 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
mar,apr,may,jun
Bloom Colors:
blue, violet, lavender
Landscaping Shrub:
Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Caterpillars:
★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Pherne subpunctata, Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Anthophora californica, Black-tailed bumble (Bombus melanopygus), Xylocopa tabaniformis Hummingbirds: Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from woody base after fire; adapted to California chaparral fire regime.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
well-drained, sandy or rocky soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid regions, prefers dry conditions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate readily with light and warmth; no pretreatment typically required.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI