Salvia semiatrata – Riviera Sage

Salvia semiatrata – Riviera Sage

Native to Oaxaca, Mexico, this lovely shrubby sage offers intriguing two-tone violet and lavender flowers with richly colored calyces above textured yellow-green foliage. Its relatively slow growth and branching form make an attractive addition to mixed borders and large containers, while butterflies and hummingbirds visit the summer and fall flowers. Bloom arrives in cycles, with resting periods between displays, and the stems are useful as cut flowers. Give it sun along the coast, light shade or protection from intense inland heat, rich but fast-draining soil, good air circulation, and regular watering. Protect from hard freezes in colder gardens.

Key Features:

• Perennial evergreen to semi-evergreen shrub
• Native to Oaxaca, Mexico
• Two-tone violet and lavender flowers with rich violet calyces
• Textured yellow-green foliage and purple-tinged branching stems
• Relatively slow growing with repeating bloom cycles
• Deer resistant; attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
• Excellent for mixed borders, large containers, and cut flowers

Growing Details:
Height: 3–5 ft; may reach 6 ft in favorable conditions | Spread: 1.5–3 ft
Exposure: Coastal sun to light shade; protect from intense inland heat | Water: Moderate to regular
Bloom time: Summer–fall, in cycles | Bloom color: Violet and lavender with violet calyces
USDA Hardiness Zone: 8–10; protect from hard freezes