Salvia clevelandii

Probably the most desirable of all native Salvias for its attractive color, form and most of all, for its delectable foliar fragrance, which I find very sexy – even at my age – ha! Blooming May and June, its hummingbird-magnet, tubular flowers are held in whorls atop the 3’x3’ nicely rounded form. Upright in growth, it makes an outstanding filler in a dry garden and works very well as the backbone of a difficult garden site. Now here’s the thing – S. Clevelandii requires excellent drainage or it gets cranky – so plant it on a slope or provide most excellent drain­age. Deer resistant. Drought tolerant.