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Salvia leucantha - Cav.

Common Name Mexican Bush Sage
Family Lamiaceae
USDA hardiness 8-10
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Present in tropical and sub-tropical pine forests across much of central and eastern Mexico.
Range C. America - Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, southern and eastern Mexico
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia leucantha Mexican Bush Sage


edibleplants.org
Salvia leucantha Mexican Bush Sage
edibleplants.org

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
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.

Plant 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

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

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PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

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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

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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,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

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Plant 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 Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico, Coahuila de Zaragoza, San Luis Potosí, Zacatecas, Chiapas, México, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, SOUTHERN AMERICA: Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador,

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
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cistus salviifoliusRock Rose, Salvia cistus, Sage Leaf Rock RoseShrub0.6 8-11 FLMNDM103
Salvia apianaWhite Sage, Compact white sagePerennial3.0 7-10  LMNDM312
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Salvia elegansPineapple Sage, Pineapple-scented Sage,Perennial1.0 8-11 MLMNDM312
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Salvia hispanicaMexican Chia, ChiaAnnual1.0 8-11  LMNDM30 
Salvia japonica Perennial0.8 7-10  LMSNDM102
Salvia lanata Perennial0.3 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia lanigeraWrinkle-Leaved SageShrub0.0 -  LMNDM10 
Salvia lavandulifoliaSpanish SageShrub0.3 4-8  LMNDM232
Salvia lyrataCancer Weed, Lyreleaf SagePerennial0.6 4-9 MLMNDM020
Salvia melliferaCalifornian Black SageShrub2.0 7-10  LMNDM12 
Salvia microphyllaBlackcurrant SagePerennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia moorcroftiana Perennial0.9 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia multicaulis Shrub0.3 7-10  LMNDM10 
Salvia multiorrhizaDan ShenPerennial0.6 5-9  LMNDM03 
Salvia officinalisSage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden SageShrub0.6 5-10 MLMNDM455
Salvia plebeia Biennial0.5 -  LMNMWe11 
Salvia pomiferaApple SageShrub1.0 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia pratensisMeadow Clary, Introduced sagePerennial1.0 3-7  LMNDM100
Salvia reflexaMintweed, Lanceleaf sageAnnual0.8 0-0  LMNDM100
Salvia sclareaClary, Europe sage, Clary SageBiennial/Perennial1.0 5-9 MLMHNDM223
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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.

 

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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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