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(Salvia sonomensis)
Creeping Sage (Salvia sonomensis)
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Bri Weldon
CC BY 2.0
Image By:
Bri Weldon
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Copyright:
CC BY 2.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Bri Weldon | License Type: CC BY 2.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ | Uploader: briweldon | Publisher: Flickr
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Salvia sonomensis, commonly known as Creeping Sage, is an evergreen perennial subshrub native to the chaparral and coastal scrub of California, particularly thriving in well-drained soils on sunny slopes and in open woodlands. This plant typically forms a low mat up to 30 cm (12 in) tall, with inflorescences rising to 15 cm (5.9 in) above the foliage. The leaves of Creeping Sage are highly variable, ranging from long and narrow to shorter and rounded, and exhibit colors from yellow-green to gray-green. Its flowers, blooming from late spring to early summer, are equally variable in color, including shades of pale lavender, lavender-purple, or lavender-blue, and are attractive to pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds.
Creeping Sage is valued for its drought tolerance, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens, xeriscaping, and as a ground cover in dry, sunny areas. It is also used for erosion control on slopes. The aromatic foliage can be used in culinary applications, and the plant is known for its medicinal properties in traditional herbalism. In cultivation, it requires minimal care, thriving in full sun to part shade and tolerating a range of soil drainage conditions, except for heavy clay. Overwatering and poor drainage are the main cultivation challenges. While generally disease-resistant, it can be susceptible to root rot in overly moist conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Creeping Sage is valued for its drought tolerance, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens, xeriscaping, and as a ground cover in dry, sunny areas. It is also used for erosion control on slopes. The aromatic foliage can be used in culinary applications, and the plant is known for its medicinal properties in traditional herbalism. In cultivation, it requires minimal care, thriving in full sun to part shade and tolerating a range of soil drainage conditions, except for heavy clay. Overwatering and poor drainage are the main cultivation challenges. While generally disease-resistant, it can be susceptible to root rot in overly moist conditions.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Shrub
- Height: 0.7-1 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Blue, Purple
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Low
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Bank Stabilization, Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Erosion Control, Fragrant, Groundcover, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers
Natural Habitat
Chaparral, coastal scrub, and open woodlands in California
Other Names
Common Names:
Scientific Names: Salvia sonomensis , Audibertia humilis , Ramona humilis , Audibertiella humilis
GBIF Accepted Name: Salvia sonomensis Greene