Salvias are a very popular drought tolerant plant species (also known as sage) with many varieties native to California. Sage was a plant widely used by native Americans for a variety of uses, one being “smudging” which is burning the dried sage to purify the air prior to a ceremony or ritual. One species which provides purple flowers is Salvia Leucophylla, or Purple Sage.
Salvias are excellent plants to attract bees, and they take very little water after they are established (in fact they don’t tolerate overwatering very well). You can collect Salvia seeds after the plant is done flowering by cutting the seed stalks, placing in a paper bag and allowing to dry. After a few weeks of drying in a warm, dry area, gently tap the stalks to encourage the seed heads to release their seeds into the bag. It will only take a few stalks to provide you plenty of seeds for next year, but you can always do a bunch and share with friends and fellow native plant enthusiasts.
When choosing the type of salvia you would like for your yard, consider whether the type is low and covers a large area, or is more upright and compact. Our Salvia Leucophylla is low, spreading and is covering an 8′ diameter circle. This can be pruned to limit coverage in the space you are interested in covering.
Salvia Leucophylla is a nice plant for bees