* Munz’s Sage – Salvia munzii (SAL-vee-uh MUN-zee-eye)

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Native to: Southwestern San Diego county to N. Baja; in Chaparral and Coastal Sage Scrub at lower

elevations (<2500 ft.). Areas where it grows are very dry.

Growth characteristics: woody shrub mature height: 3-5 ft. mature width: 3-4 ft. Fragrant Salvia that resembles Black Sage (Salvia mellifera) but has a more compact habit and small

leaves. Plant is drought-deciduous, but evergreen with a little summer water. Foliage gray-green, with aroma similar to Salvia clevelandii. Nice looking Salvia for the home garden.

Blooms/fruits: Main bloom season Feb-Apr, but may also bloom in summer with occasional water.

Small, lavender-blue flowers in ball-like clusters (whorls) on flowering stems. Showy and aromatic in bloom. Tiny seeds ripen summer/fall. Leave seed heads on plant for birds to harvest.

Uses in the garden: A favorite sage for gardens due to it’s compact shape, aroma and flower color.

Good for a scented garden; probably best Salvia for containers. Excellent habitat; superior flavor for

culinary uses. Foliage contrasts well with other Salvias, CA Fuschia and other gray-foliage natives. Cultivar ‘Baja Blue’ has very blue flowers; ‘Emerald Cascade’ is low (to 3 ft.) and mounded.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Salvias, other shrubs of similar size.

Attracts: Excellent all-round habitat plant. Nectar attracts pollinator insects, butterflies,

hummingbirds. Also provides cover and seeds seed-eating birds, lizards, etc.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Best in full sun

Soil Well-drain soils best, but tolerates sand to clay; any local pH.

Water Probably looks best with occasional summer water (Zone 1-2 to 2) but don’t over-

water, esp. in clay soils.

Fertilizer None needed

Other

Management: Prune like other Salvias – annually, remove up to 1/3 of branch length in

summer/fall to retain vigor. Do not hard prune older plants that have never been pruned.

Propagation: from seed: yes by cuttings: semi-hard wood in summer

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 24, 40 1/7/15 * CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. county © Project SOUND

Munz’ Sage – Salvia munzii

In Mother Nature’s Backyard native plant garden, spring – Gardena, CA

In Mother Nature’s Backyard Garden (winter

In Mother Nature’s Backyard native plant garden, winter – Gardena, CA

In Mother Nature’s Backyard native plant garden, fall – Gardena, CA