Salvia Species, Blue Shrub Sage, Shrubby Blue Sage

I grow this on a steep limestone hill in calcareous soil in morning sun with no irrigation after the first year. It was slow to establish...Read More but lived through the 2011 drought. It is now starting to look really good in a wild shrubby sort of way. I did take some cuttings this year in spring and am planting two more.

Texas narive in 26 Texas counties. Hummers love the blooms Habitat for painted lady caterpillars

I have not grown this plant. Blue Shrub Sage, Shrubby Blue Sage (Salvia ballotiflora) is also known by these common names: Mejorana, Med...Read Morejorana, Shrubby Blue Salvia, Engorda-cabra and Crespa. It is endemic to the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains regions of Texas. It may be found on gulf prairies, brushy hillsides, thorn forests, chaparrals, thickets, brush lands and marshes in rocky, sandy, sandy loam, gravelly, caliche, gravelly or limestone soils. A much branched small shrub, it is between 2 to 6 feet tall (rarely to 8 feet) and 1.5 to 3 feet wide and prefers full sun. It can tolerate part sun and filtered shade; however, it becomes leggy. It can not grow in full shade. Its opposite, simple, oval, aromatic green leaves vary in size with moisture availability and are up to 1.6 inches long. From spring throughout the summer and into fall, small bluish to bluish-purple (rarely white) flowers are produced following a rainfall. These are followed by the fruit which are four nutlets within a brown folded calyx. In cultivation, too much fertilizer or water causes it to grow leggy. To keep it nicely shaped, pruning is necessary.

Although blue sage is not grazed by livestock or wildlife, it serves as cover for small mammals and Painted Lady caterpillars. It is a nectar source for a variety of butterflies. Its dried leaves have been used to flavor meats and other foods and can be brewed into a tea. Its seeds used by Indians for food.

Blue Shrub Sage, Shrubby Blue Sage Salvia ballotiflora is Endemic to Texas.