Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage

Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Prune old flower heads to encourage more blossoms. Pruning time: early spring.

A superior plant for hot dry slopes and banks. Rugged enough for rock gardens in warm climates and natural rocky outcroppings where it is likely to naturalize. Exceptional component of Mediterranean style gardens both formal and casual. With similar requirements as western natives, it is suitable for xeriscape or wild gardens in the driest climate. A chameleon equally suited to traditional mixed borders and cottage gardens with perennials and flowering shrubs. Performs in large artistic pots and particularly beautiful in quality terra cotta.

Salvias are classified into the mint family, Labiateae which contains over 750 different species of herbs and subshrubs from quasi-arid climates around the world. This species is a frost tender native ranging over much of Mexico and first classified at the University of Madrid by Antonio Jose Cavanilles (1745-1804). This cultivar was discovered by a Santa Barbara, California gardener Kathiann Brown as being an improvement on the species. It was named KAB in her honor and marketed via Plant Haven to be introduced in 2000 s Santa Barbara.

Mexican sage does not share the pleasant scent or culinary values of the seasoning sage. Oils do have a mild pest resistant quality that leads to their use in some indigenous granaries and basket making. The flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds.