1. * Santa Rosa Island/Brandegee’s Sage – Salvia brandegeei
(SAL-vee-uh bran-DEE-jee-eye)
Family: Lamiaceae (Mint Family)
Native to: Northern Channel Islands & Baja; dry places in coastal sage scrub.
Growth characteristics: clumping woody shrub mature height: 4-5 ft. mature width: 4-5 ft.
Large shrub, mounded to prostrate (lying down), similar to Black Sage. Leaves long and narrow,
dark green and pebbly above, white-hairy beneath. Leaf edges may be rolled. Two sets of leaves
per year – larger in fall/winter. Drought deciduous. Foliage aromatic. Horticultural cultivars:
‘Pacific Blue’ (probably a hybrid).
Blooms/fruits: Blooms in late spring/early summer depending on rains. Flowers pale lavender, in
whorls similar to Black Sage, except that lips are elongated. Elegant blooms against dark foliage.
Uses in the garden: Most often grown for it’s dark green foliage. Nice as foundation or specimen
plant, in back of perennial beds, in a fragrance or habitat garden. Makes a nice cut flower. Attracts
pollinators which improve the entire garden.
Sensible substitute for: Non-native shrub (perennial) sages & other large shrubs.
Attracts: Excellent bird habitat: cover and seeds for food. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies all
drink nectar.
Requirements:
Element Requirement
Sun Full sun
Soil Any from clay to sand, as long as it’s well-drained; any local pH
Water Best with no summer water once established; will remain green with a little summer
water, but this will promote leggy growth and probably shorten plant’s life
Fertilizer None required
Other Organic mulch fine
Management: Not much required. Prune back after flowering/seeding to shape. Prune back only
to several inches above base of new (this year’s) growth – do not prune into woody part of stems.
Propagation: from seed: yes, in garden or pots in fall by cuttings: semi-softwood during
growth season or by layering.
Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 6, 8, 11, 13, 19, 24, 25 2/9/11
* CA native plant but not native to Western L.A. county © Project SOUND