Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara')

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Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage

Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'

A compact Mexican Bush Sage with velvety purple-and-white flower spikes and a long bloom season from spring through fall.

$16.90

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Description

Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' is a compact, semi-evergreen shrub prized for its dense, slowly spreading habit and exceptionally long season of velvety, purple-and-white flower spikes. This superior selection of Mexican Bush Sage is more compact and better-behaved than the species, forming a tidy mound of lance-shaped, gray-green leaves with white, fuzzy undersides that are aromatic when brushed. From late spring through fall (and year-round in mild climates), it produces an abundance of long, arching stems adorned with small, two-lipped, bright purple flowers emerging from soft, velvety, deep purple calyxes, creating a stunning bicolor effect. The velvety flower spikes are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. With its compact size, excellent drought and heat tolerance, deer resistance, and long bloom period, it is an outstanding choice for borders, mass plantings, containers, coastal gardens, and water-wise landscapes.

Quick Facts

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Foliage & Flowers: Lance-shaped, gray-green leaves with white, fuzzy undersides, aromatic; long, arching stems with small, bright purple flowers emerging from velvety deep purple calyxes, blooming from late spring through fall .
Mature Height: 24-36 inches (2-3 ft)
Mature Spread: 24-36 inches (2-3 ft)
Growth Rate: Moderate
Hardiness Zones: USDA 8-11 ; Sunset 12-24, H1, H2
Light Requirement: Full sun (best flowering) to partial shade
Core Benefits: Compact habit (more compact than species), long bloom season, velvety purple-and-white flowers, drought and heat tolerant, deer resistant.
Best Uses: Borders, mass plantings, containers, coastal gardens, Mediterranean gardens, water-wise landscapes, pollinator gardens.

Faqs

Q: How is 'Santa Barbara' different from the species Mexican Bush Sage?
A: It is more compact and better-behaved (reaches 2-3 ft vs. 3-4+ ft), spreads more slowly, and has a denser, tidier habit, making it more suitable for smaller gardens and containers.

Q: How long does it bloom?
A: It has an exceptionally long bloom season, from late spring through fall, and in mild, frost-free climates, it can bloom nearly year-round.

Q: How much sun does it need?
A: For the densest growth and most abundant flowers, plant in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily). It will tolerate light shade but may become leggy.

Q: How much water does it need?
A: Once established, it is drought and heat tolerant. Water regularly during its first year, then little to no supplemental water is needed. It requires well-drained soil.

Q: Does it attract hummingbirds?
A: Yes, the nectar-rich, tubular purple flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Q: Is it deer resistant?
A: Yes, the aromatic, fuzzy foliage is generally resistant to deer and rabbit browsing.

📍 Primary Delivery Area · San Francisco Bay Area

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San Francisco Bay Area is our primary local delivery market. Victory Nursery also serves additional California markets and selected extended delivery areas by arrangement.

Regular local delivery: San Francisco, Peninsula, South Bay, East Bay, Marin, Tracy / Mountain House and surrounding service areas.

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