Salvia spathacea aka Hummingbird Sage

Salvia spathacea is a perennial from western and southwestern California. It belongs to Lamiaceae, the mint family. Its common names include pitcher sage and bee sage. The RHS and Chicago Botanic Garden class it as a perennial. Kew records its life form as a shrub. In gardens, it forms bushy clumps and spreads with vigour. Its leaves fall rather than stay through winter.

Garden plants reach about 1.6–3.3 feet (0.5–1 metre) in height and width. The RHS also describes plants around 2.5 feet (0.75 metres) tall. They take two to five years to reach full size. The mid-green leaves have an arrow shape and a scent. Each leaf can reach about 0.66 feet (0.2 metres) long. White hairs cover the undersides. Stout stems hold the flowers above the leafy growth.

The flowers appear in summer and have a long shape. Their colour lies between purple and red. They emerge from maroon calyces, with large maroon bracts nearby. These dark parts add colour around the blooms. Cut back the flower spikes when their blooms fade. This can help extend the flowering season. Seed offers a means of raising new plants. The supplied sources give no details about the fruit. They also provide no species-level evidence for edible uses or toxicity.

Grow this sage in light soil with plenty of humus. It prefers moderate fertility and moisture, but needs good drainage. The RHS lists chalk, loam and sand as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral and alkaline conditions. Full sun gives the best position, though it tolerates light shade. Choose a sheltered site facing south or east. The RHS rates its hardiness as H4. This rating covers minimum temperatures from −10 to −5°C under UK conditions.

This sage suits informal gardens, borders and flower beds. The RHS also lists coastal, courtyard and wildlife gardens. It can grow in pots and Mediterranean-style planting schemes. Its spreading growth needs room within a mixed border. Pests cause few problems, according to the RHS. Diseases can include powdery mildew and verticillium wilt. Foot and root rots may also occur. Honey fungus is another risk, though the RHS calls it rare.