Perennials: Sage Tree???, 1 by Rich_dufresne

Rich_dufresne wrote:
Well, there are some tree-like sages, but they are very unlikely to be sold at a big box store. Salvia regla, and S. sessei develop to 10 - 15 feet, form a durable (if soft) wood, are deciduous, but have large orange flowers. The attached image is the Salvia regla on a Coahuila state highway in Jame which I collected seed from. Plant Delights selection came from this 15 foot tree. I did not have the time to wait for the sun to get covered by clouds, so it is difficult to see the trunk.

There are arborescent Salvias in Cuba and Argentina as well, but these are not collected, let alone in cultivation.

The reglas will only get to half their wild size in the USA in the warmest zones, but are quite spectacular when in bloom. They are hardy to USDA Zone 7, but stay as shrubs unless you protect the trunk from hard freezes.

Could your bush be a Perovskia? They can get quite tall and have small blue-lavender flowers.