Salvia dorrii

Common Names

Purple Sage, Desert Sage, Dorr's Sage, Tobacco Sage, Gray Ball Sage, Mint Sage, Desert Purple Sage, Purple Desert Sage

Summary

Purple Sage is a woody evergreen subshrub native to the western United States, typically 0.5–1.0 m tall and wide, with gray-green, aromatic leaves and dense spikes of pale blue to purple flowers accented by purple bracts. It thrives in dry, well-drained soils and occurs in desert scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland habitats at elevations of roughly 2,500–5,000 ft. Distinctive features include silver-gray foliage with a minty aroma and upright to spreading flower clusters that attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun and well-drained, nutrient-poor to poor soils, is drought- and heat-tolerant, and requires minimal maintenance; sprinkler irrigation is not ideal. Propagation is by seed or cuttings, and the plant is deer- and rabbit-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping, rock gardens, native plantings, and range revegetation; use as an accent plant or low hedge in dry landscapes to enhance pollinator habitat.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun and partial shade; can range from partial sun to full sun.

Soil Type

Well-drained, dry, sandy or rocky soil with low organic matter and a pH of 6.0–8.5.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil.

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

Purple

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Greenish gray to blue to silver

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds