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Similar to Salvia munzii (20)
Salvia munzii
- 1. * Munz’s Sage – Salvia munzii (SAL-vee-uh MUN-zee-eye)
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Native to: Southwestern San Diego county to N. Baja; in Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub at lower
elevations (<2500 ft.). Areas where it grows are very dry.
Growth characteristics: woody shrub mature height: 3-5 ft. mature width: 3-4 ft.
Fragrant Salvia that resembles Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) but has a more compact habit and small
leaves. Plant is drought-deciduous, but evergreen with a little summer water. Foliage gray-green,
with aroma similar to Salvia clevelandii. Nice looking Salvia for the home garden.
Blooms/fruits: Main bloom season Feb-Apr, but may also bloom in summer with occasional water.
Small, lavender-blue flowers in ball-like clusters (whorls) on flowering stems. Showy and aromatic
in bloom. Tiny seeds ripen summer/fall. Leave seed heads on plant for birds to harvest.
Uses in the garden: A favorite sage for gardens due to it’s compact shape, aroma and flower color.
Good for a scented garden; probably best Salvia for containers. Excellent habitat; superior flavor for
culinary uses. Foliage contrasts well with other Salvias, CA Fuschia and other gray-foliage natives.
Cultivar ‘Baja Blue’ has very blue flowers; ‘Emerald Cascade’ is low (to 3 ft.) and mounded.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native Salvias, other shrubs of similar size.
Attracts: Excellent all-round habitat plant. Nectar attracts pollinator insects, butterflies,
hummingbirds. Also provides cover and seeds seed-eating birds, lizards, etc.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Best in full sun
Soil Well-drain soils best, but tolerates sand to clay; any local pH.
Water Probably looks best with occasional summer water (Zone 1-2 to 2) but don’t over-
water, esp. in clay soils.
Fertilizer None needed
Other
Management: Prune like other Salvias – annually, remove up to 1/3 of branch length in
summer/fall to retain vigor. Do not hard prune older plants that have never been pruned.
Propagation: from seed: yes by cuttings: semi-hard wood in summer
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1,3,7,8,13,14,16,17,20,21,24,40 1/7/15
* CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. county © Project SOUND
