Whilst most other summer plants have long given up hope of doing anything productive, the Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha) is continuing to showcase its vibrant colour and striking poise amongst local gardens. Prized by gardeners and landscape designers for its ornamental and showy velvety flower spikes produced from late summer to the first frosts.
Thought to be one of the most attractive Salvias, this evergreen shrubby perennial typically grows 1.3 metres tall in a wonderful display of bicolour flowers. Soft purple sepals create a lively contrast to the fuzzy white flowers. They rise in dense, arching spikes above the leaves, which are grey-green in colour on top and white underneath.
Easy to grow, it thrives in full sun (but tolerates part shade) in average to rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils.
Perfectly suited for garden beds, borders or containers and outstanding as cut flowers. This Salvia can be part of an almost Mediterranean look if grown with rosemary and lavender. It also combines well in a garden design with ornamental grasses.
Loved by butterflies and the team at Ian Barker Gardens – it’s no wonder they are a regular contributor in many of our garden designs!
