Water-Wise Gardening

California-Friendly Plant: Mexican Sage

Mexican Sage is one of the most dependable CaliforniaFriendly plants you’ll find at your local nursery – and it is one of the most attractive. This shrub flourishes in harsh sun, poor soil and with little water. Just give it a quick soak upon planting, and then it can go two to three weeks between watering in summer, and even longer during the rest of the year.

The plant’s flowers are actually white, not purple. The beautiful purple shoots that make the Mexican Sage one of the most stunning sage varieties are called calyces, which serve as a protector for the delicate white flowers that bloom from fall through spring. Mexican Sage is a favorite for hummingbirds.