Mexican Bush Sage. Salvia leucantha, Lamiaceae Family: ( Lamiaceae ) , Mexican Bush Sage. Also Called: Velvet Sage. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Mexican Bush Sage is a fast growing, perennial, medium size shrub. It can be used as a xeriscape plant in hot, dry areas. It is good for hummingbird and butterfly gardens Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage) is a herbaceous perennial that is native to subtropical and tropical conifer forests in central and eastern Mexico. The flowers are usually white, emerging from coloured bracts. It is not frost hardy, but is often grown in warmer latitudes for its prominent arching velvety blue or purple inflorescences. Mexican bush sage is especially well adapted to hot, desert-like areas. It has a long period of bloom. Salvia leucantha needs some shade in the summer afternoon. It will bloom from mid to late summer until frost when it will die back to the ground. In warmer climates, like Phoenix, it may stay evergreen. In this situation, cutting it back to the ground once a year in the fall is recommended. Mexican bush sage has graceful arching stems and soft downy foliage. The fuzzy purple calyces persist even after the actual flowers have fallen off, making Mexican bush sage an excellent plant for use as a cut flower. Quick Notes: Height: About 36 - 48 inches tall, spread to about 2 to 3 feet wide. Flowers: White flowers 1/2 inch long that extends from velvet - purple or lavender - blue calyces. The bicolored inflorescences are borne in elongated arching clusters 6 - 12 inches in length at the ends of erect, spreading stems. Blooming Time: Mid March - October. Leaves: Leaves are lance shaped, 11/2 inches long, white-wooly underneath. They are on petioles about an inch long and arranged in opposite pairs along the stems. Found: Native to Mexico & Central America. Elevation: Naturally found between 0 and 3,000 feet. Hardiness: We have read reports of it growing well in Winston Salem, NC (Zone 7a). USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Afternoon Shade Habitat: Desert soil, rock, does well in loose soil on slopes. Well-drained soil. Native to subtropical and tropical conifer forests in central and eastern Mexico. Miscellaneous: Excellent Xeriscape Landscaping Plant. Flowering Photos Taken March 27, 2006. Peoria, Arizona Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.

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