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Lamiaceae
Hummingbird Sage
Salvia spathacea
Shaded beauty and California wild spirit.
- Family
- Lamiaceae
- Genus
- Salvia
- Native to
- California
- Bloom season
- Spring, Early Summer
- Type
- herbaceous perennial
- Height
- 30–90 cm
- Sunlight
- part shade to full shade
- Soil
- well-drained, sandy or clay
- Water
- low; summer-dry adapted
- Hardiness
- 7–10
- Lifespan
- perennial; spreads by rhizomes
Did you know
- Unlike most sages that need full sun, hummingbird sage thrives under oaks in dry California woodland shade.
- The large, grape-scented leaves release a fruity fragrance when brushed against.
- Anna's Hummingbirds are the primary pollinator, visiting the hooded crimson flowers throughout spring.
- It forms spreading colonies via underground stolons, creating lush ground cover under native oaks.
- The species name 'spathacea' refers to the spathe-like bracts that surround the flower clusters.
Color meanings
Magenta
wild allure
Crimson
California woodland beauty