Cleveland Sage / Chaparral Sage – Desert Horizon Nursery

Cleveland Sage

Salvia clevelandii
Categories:
Shrubs  ·  
Desert Shrubs
Light
Full sun (afternoon shade in low desert)
Water
Low water once established. Water deeply, then allow soil to dry thoroughly; provide occasional supplemental summer irrigation in Phoenix, avoiding frequent watering.
Size
3-5 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide
Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Description
An aromatic shrub native to Southern California and northern Baja California, with gray-green leaves and tiers of lavender-blue flowers.
Bloom Time
Spring to early summer
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Attracts Bees / Pollinators, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Drought Tolerant, Fragrant
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Mounded – spreading shrub
Mature Size
3-5 ft tall × 4-6 ft wide
Flower Color
Blue-violet
Foliage Color
Gray-green
Landscape Use
Border / Bed, Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Screen, Pollinator / Wildlife Garden
Garden Style
Desert / Xeriscape, Hedge / Formal, Mediterranean, Pollinator / Wildlife
Soil
Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Blackfoot daisy, Desert marigold, Desert penstemon, Globe mallow, Red yucca
Non-toxic
Non-toxic
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to light shade; in Phoenix, morning sun with afternoon shade helps reduce extreme summer heat stress. Avoid reflected heat.

Water: Low water once established. Water deeply, then allow soil to dry thoroughly; provide occasional supplemental summer irrigation in Phoenix, avoiding frequent watering.

Soil: Very well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil. Tolerates alkaline soil; use a raised mound where drainage is poor.

Mature size: 3–5 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.

Bloom: Primarily spring to early summer; timing varies with cultivar and local conditions.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen to semi-evergreen; may shed some foliage during severe heat or drought.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast with suitable drainage and establishment watering.