Plant · P-1133

Texas Sage Herb

Salvia texana

A low, clump-forming perennial sage native to limestone country from north-central Texas south into northern Mexico, usually 30 to 46 cm tall with narrow gray-green leaves and spikes of dark purplish-blue flowers in spring. Grows in soils that range from sandy to heavy clay over rocky caliche and tolerates strongly alkaline conditions, needing full sun to light shade and little supplemental water once established. A taproot anchors the plant in shallow, rocky ground. Flowers draw bees and butterflies and the foliage is seldom browsed by deer. Easily overtopped by larger neighbors, so it does best at the front of a planting or among other low, open-textured species.