Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
ShrubsConservatory Greenhouse

Salvia leucantha
  • RHS AGM
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

Mexican bush sage

S. leucantha is an evergreen subshrub to 1.2m in height, with narrowly lance-shaped leaves white beneath, and small white flowers with conspicuous downy purple clayces

Join the RHS

Become an RHS Member today and save 25% on your first year

Join now
Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer Purple White Green
Autumn Purple White Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

South–facing or East–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H2
Botanical details
Family
Lamiaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Salvia can be annuals, biennials, herbaceous or evergreen perennials, or shrubs. They have paired, simple or pinnately lobed, often aromatic leaves and 2-lipped flowers in whorls, forming simple or branched spikes or racemes

Name status

Correct

Plant range
Mexico & Tropical America

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in loam-less or loam-based potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun. Grow outdoors in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or dappled shade in a frost-free border. Protect from excessive winter wet. Many species attract bees. Provides good colour

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or semi-hardwood in late summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Mediterranean climate plants
  • Gravel garden
  • Low Maintenance
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
Pruning

Pruning group 9 in spring

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), powdery mildews, verticillium wilt and foot and root rots

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.