Blue Sage
Salvia pachyphylla
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Dick Culbert (www.flickr.com) from Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- Salvia pachyphylla
- USDA Symbol:
- SAPA5
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 90 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- purple, blue, lavender
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble (Bombus pensylvanicus), Anthophora abrupta, Anthophora californica, Bombus sonorus, Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica), Southern plains bumble bee (Bombus fraternus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera), Xylocopa micans, Xylocopa tabaniformis Hummingbirds: Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin), Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri), Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Pyrausta inornatalis, Snowberry Clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Atalopedes Scudder, Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius), Eufala Skipper (Lerodea eufala), Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Julia butterfly (Dione vanillae), Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus), ⚠️Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from woody base after fire; adapted to fire-prone chaparral and desert scrub communities.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- gritty, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid, rocky slopes
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily with light and warm temperatures; no pretreatment typically required.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI