Ruth’s tips: For drought-tolerant summer color, get to know Blue Sage

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Walnut Creek’s Ruth Bancroft is a national authority on drought-resistant gardening. Twice a month, she and her staff share their knowledge with readers.

The genus Salvia has a large number of species, and many hybrids have been created from these. They range from small creepers, or “subshrubs,” up to large bushes, with varying flower colors. Because they come from differing environments, their water needs differ markedly from one kind to another. Among the drought-tolerant ones is Salvia clevelandii, native to Southern California and neighboring Baja California.

Salvia clevelandii is sometimes called Blue Sage or California Blue Sage, due to the blue-purple color of its flowers. The name sage is applied to various species of Salvia, including the kind used in cooking (Salvia officinalis), and other plants from different families can also be referred to as sage.

S. clevelandii is a modest-size shrub, typically reaching 3 to 4 feet in height and in width. The whole plant has a wonderful fragrance, and leaves or sprigs often are used in potpourris and sachets. The new gray-green leaves are minutely felted; older leaves become deeper green as the covering wears off. Elliptical in shape, the leaves grow to about 1¾ inches in length. They have a roughened texture, and the edges have tiny notches.

The flowers of the California Blue Sage emerge in spring, starting in May at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. If not watered, the plant often

stops flowering by early summer. However, occasional watering can keep the flowers going through the summer. The blooms come in whorls at intervals along the upper stems, each with a cushion-shaped cluster of buds and sepals; from these, the trumpet-like flowers emerge. Just under an inch in length, they (like other Salvia flowers) are two-lipped, with three of the petal-tips curling downward and the other two curving up. The color ranges from pale lavender through an intense blue-purple.

Some attractive forms of Salvia clevelandii have been selected by growers; the best known of these is the cultivar “Winnifred Gilman.” It is a bit more compact than other forms, usually reaching about 3 feet in height. It is often used in gardens of native plants, and makes a fine addition to any drought-tolerant landscape.

If you have a question for the Ruth Bancroft Garden, email info@ruthbancroftgarden.org. For tour and event information, go to www.ruthbancroftgarden.org.