Botanical Name: Salvia mellifera 'Terra Seca'
Common Name: Black Sage, Green Sage
Type of Plant: dicot: subshrub
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a low-growing, sprawling plant, with thin arching and spreading stems forming a loose cushiony mound
Height 1' - 2'
Spread 5' - 8'
Growth Rate moderate-rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors prefers full sun at all locations except hot inland sites, where it benefits from partial shade
Soil tolerates most, including clay
Hardiness hardy (Zones 8-24): thrives in warm coastal valley/foothill locations
 
Morphology:
Leaves pinnate, opposite (on squarish stems), oval-elliptic or oblong; pungent, fairly shiny, green above, paler beneath, 1"-2" long, with somewhat crenate margins, blades somewhat glandular
Flowers pale blue-white, in round clusters on terminal spikes; March - May
Fruit tiny nutlets
 
Propagation:
softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings
 
Usage:
a very drought-tolerant low filler or large-scale ground-cover for sunny slopes, good for dry locations in mostly frost-free coastal areas; good for 'quick effects' in the garden, and for erosion control on steep slopes
 
Landscape Care:
Watering little required except at hot inland sites, where periodic deep-soak irrigation is needed (14-21 days)
Fertilizing none required
Pruning head back after blooming to control width if needed; little is required
Pests/Diseases root fungus diseases in badly-draining sites
Special Conditions/Other rather short-lived if over-watered
 
Origin: cultivar of S. mellifera, native to central and southern California coastal foothills
Family: Lamiaceae

Notes:
 
PDF
Your pictures go here