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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Salvia leucantha is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.2 m (4ft) by 1.2 m (4ft in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. The flowers are pollinated by Butterflies, Humming birds.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
S. bicolor Sessé & Moc. [Illegitimate]. S. leucantha f. iobaphes Fernald.
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers Leaves
Edible Uses:
Mexican sage is not usually considered to be a culinary sage, but further information on culinary uses for sage plants may be found at Common Sage.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The plant is said to have medicinal virtues, but no details are given. Common Sage (Salvia officinalis) and many other salvias have a wide variety of medicinal uses, and Mexican sage may have been used for similar purposes where it grows locally. Mexican sage has been found to contain specific sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and other compounds (S. leucantha is rich in the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons?; _-caryophyllene, _-guaiene, cis-muurola-3,5-diene, germacrene D, and bicyclogermacrene. Bornyl acetate constituted 23.9% of the oil.).
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Hedge
Agroforestry Uses: The plant is sometimes grown as a low hedge[317]. Ornamental: it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Garden Design: Prairie and Meadow, Mediterranean Garden, Informal and Cottage, Gravel and Rock Garden, Coastal Garden. Cut flowers. Containers. Flowers attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Resistant to deer and rabbits.
Special Uses
Attracts Wildlife Food Forest Hedge
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Salvia leucantha is native to the subtropics and tropics of Mexico and Mesoamerica. It is a bushy evergreen sub-shrub that grows in a loose, spreading mound. It is not very resistant to frosts but can tolerate occasional light ones. The top growth will often be killed off if temperatures fall below zero for more than short periods. However, root growth will survive if temperatures do not fall below -8°c for more than short periods - new development will then resprout from the base when the weather warms up. In colder climates with hot summers, the plant can be grown from seed as a summer-flowering annual [352 ]. A low-maintenance plant. Salvia leucantha grows well in an average to rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils in full sun [352 ]. It tolerates some light afternoon shade but generally is best when grown in full sun. It also handles some drought but does best with regular moisture [352 ]. Heat zone 4-12. Sometimes grown as a hedge[317].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
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Propagation
Propagation is by cuttings or dividing the mound into several clumps.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Mexican Bush Sage 'Mystic Spires', Mexican Bush Sage 'Roman Red'
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Africa, Australia, Europe, North America
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
Impacts: It is present in tropical and subtropical pine forests across much of central and eastern Mexico. In East Africa, it has escaped cultivation, forming dense stands that may have a negative impact on native plants and their associated organisms in some areas. Invades roadsides, gardens and urban open space.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not Listed.
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Cistus salviifolius | Rock Rose, Salvia cistus, Sage Leaf Rock Rose | Shrub | 0.6 |
8-11
| F | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Salvia apiana | White Sage, Compact white sage | Perennial | 3.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Salvia ballotaeflora | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Salvia carduacea | Thistle Sage | Annual/Perennial | 0.7 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | |
| Salvia carnosa | Purple Sage | Shrub | 0.8 |
6-9
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 2 | |
| Salvia clevelandii | Blue Sage, Fragrant sage, Chaparral Sage | Shrub | 0.6 |
8-11
| M | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Salvia columbariae | Chia, Ziegler's sage | Annual/Perennial | 0.7 |
6-9
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 2 | |
| Salvia dorisiana | Sage Fruity Pineapple | Perennial | 1.3 |
9-12
| F | LMH | SN | M | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Salvia elegans | Pineapple Sage, Pineapple-scented Sage, | Perennial | 1.0 |
8-11
| M | LM | N | DM | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Salvia fruticosa | Greek Sage, Greek oregano | Shrub | 1.0 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Salvia glabrescens | | Perennial | 0.3 |
-
| | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Salvia glutinosa | Jupiter's Distaff, Sticky Sage | Perennial | 1.2 |
4-8
| | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Salvia hispanica | Mexican Chia, Chia | Annual | 1.0 |
8-11
| | LM | N | DM | 3 | 0 | |
| Salvia japonica | | Perennial | 0.8 |
7-10
| | LM | SN | DM | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Salvia lanata | | Perennial | 0.3 |
6-9
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 1 | |
| Salvia lanigera | Wrinkle-Leaved Sage | Shrub | 0.0 |
-
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Salvia lavandulifolia | Spanish Sage | Shrub | 0.3 |
4-8
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Salvia lyrata | Cancer Weed, Lyreleaf Sage | Perennial | 0.6 |
4-9
| M | LM | N | DM | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Salvia mellifera | Californian Black Sage | Shrub | 2.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 2 | |
| Salvia microphylla | Blackcurrant Sage | Perennial | 1.2 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 2 | |
| Salvia moorcroftiana | | Perennial | 0.9 |
6-9
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 1 | |
| Salvia multicaulis | | Shrub | 0.3 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | |
| Salvia multiorrhiza | Dan Shen | Perennial | 0.6 |
5-9
| | LM | N | DM | 0 | 3 | |
| Salvia officinalis | Sage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden Sage | Shrub | 0.6 |
5-10
| M | LM | N | DM | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Salvia plebeia | | Biennial | 0.5 |
-
| | LM | N | MWe | 1 | 1 | |
| Salvia pomifera | Apple Sage | Shrub | 1.0 |
7-10
| | LM | N | DM | 2 | 2 | |
| Salvia pratensis | Meadow Clary, Introduced sage | Perennial | 1.0 |
3-7
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Salvia reflexa | Mintweed, Lanceleaf sage | Annual | 0.8 |
0-0
| | LM | N | DM | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Salvia sclarea | Clary, Europe sage, Clary Sage | Biennial/Perennial | 1.0 |
5-9
| M | LMH | N | DM | 2 | 2 | 3 |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
Cav.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Salvia leucantha
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