BACK
Plant of the Week
September 23, 2006
|
Dwarf
Mexican Bush Sage
Salvia leucantha
"Santa Barbara"
|
|
Salvias are classified into the mint family, Labiateae, which
contains over 750 species of herbs and sub-shrubs from quasi-arid climates around
the world. The "Santa Barbara" species of Salvia leucantha is a frost
tender native from most of Mexico and was first classified at the University
of Madrid by Antonio Jose Cavanilles (1745-1804). This cultivar, considered
to be an improvement on the species, was discovered by Kathiann Brown, a gardener
from Santa Barbara, California. It was named KAB in her honor and was later
marketed as Dwarf Mexican Bush Sage, Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' selection.
So, how about a plant that is hardy, drought tolerant, usually
deer resistant, and blooms spectacular lavender flower stalks throughout the
fall season? That plant would be the Dwarf Mexican Bush Sage. The best selection
of this compact plant, botanically speaking, is named 'Santa Barbara,' Salvia
leucantha. It normally grows into a well-mounded mass of spiked flowers reaching
up to three feet in height and spreads into a four foot mass clump.
Remembering that "Fall is for Planting", this would
be a great time for establishing this plant. If it is damaged by coldl winter,
it will grow back, good as new. Remove damaged parts before the start of spring.
If pruned to the ground, it will even bounce back. If there is no winter damage,
pruning can wait until early summer. By pruning, you can keep the shrub compact
and sturdy. In climates where it experiences no winter at all, it builds up
over time into a substantially woody shrub with a year-round evergreen presence.
In this situation, cutting the shrub back in mid-February is normally suggested.
This "Santa Barbara," as compared to the common Mexican
Bush Sage, is greatly favored by hummingbirds and butterflies. It has a more
compact appearance, due to its dense foliage, and provides an colorful appearance
to the garden.
The spikes of "Santa Barbara" Salvia are a rich, deep purple-bluish
mass of flowers and have a velvety texture. This provides the species with another
common name, Wooly of Velvet. It loves bright sun and needs little or no water.
Although it is a desert-like plant, it easily adapts to cooler weather, as long
as it is strategically located to get as little rainwater as possible, and placed
in perfectly well-drained soil. It prefers soils enriched with compost and top-dressed
occasionally with organic mulch.
This would be a great fall-blooming perennial for anyone's garden
to enjoy for many years. Who knows? You might even enjoy the flowers in a beautiful
floral arrangement.
Remember, Learn and Have
Fun!
David Rodriguez is the County Extension Agent-Horticulture
for Bexar County. He represents Texas Cooperative Extension with the Texas A&M
University System. For any landscape or gardening information, call the Bexar
County Master Gardeners Hotline at (210) 467-6575, email questions to mg-bexar@tamu.edu,
or visit our County Extension website at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/
Special Note: Listen to live broadcast of the Home & Garden Show with
David Rodriguez & Bill Rohde on WOAI 1200 AM, every Saturday morning between
8:00-11:00 a.m., and call in your gardening questions at (210) 737-1200 or 1-800-383-9624.
Check it out!
