How to Grow and Care for Mexican Bush Sage

Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha) is an evergreenshrubby perennialnative to Central America and Mexico. Prized for its dense, arching flower spires, it is easy to care for and requires little maintenance. Its gray-green leaves have a velvet-like texture and grow in pairs on square stems. The plant is soft and hairy to the touch and has a pleasant fragrance.

Because of its fast growth rate of 2 to 3 feet in a single season, Mexican bush sage can be grown as an annual outside of its hardiness range. It is planted in the spring and blooms in late summer and early fall. The showy spikes of velvety purple flowers attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators.

Mexican Bush Sage Care

Here are the main care requirements for Mexican bush sage:

• Choose a sunny location with fertile and well-drained soil.
• Plant Mexican bush sage in the spring and space the plants three feet apart,
• Water regularly until the plant is established and during periods of high temperatures.
• Fertilize once a year in the early spring before shoots emerge.
  
• Shear the plant two or three times in the spring and summer for a dense, compact growth.

Light

The Mexican bush sage prefers full sun but tolerates partial sun. If located in partial sun, your plant might not be as dense and lush as in full sun.

Water

Though Mexican bush sages are drought-tolerant, they require watering during hot summers. Be sure to water the shrub weekly during its initial growing season to help it develop strong roots. Water Mexican during periods of drought longer than two weeks without significant rainfall.

Soil

Mexican bush sages require rich soil and tolerate heavier soil well, they aren't prone to rot. Before planting, work a 3- to 4-inch layer oforganic compostinto the soil with a tiller, improving drainage and providing additional nutrients.

Temperature and Humidity

Mexican bush sage is a warm-weather plant that only survives winters without extended freezing temperatures and where temperatures don't drop below 18 degrees.

Fertilizer

Fertilize Mexican bush sage with an all-purpose, balanced fertilizer once a year before new shoots emerge in the spring. Apply the fertilizer at the manufacturer's recommended rate. Fertilizing more than that is unnecessary.

Types of Mexican Bush Sage

• S. leucantha 'Midnight' has dark purple calyces (bracts that surround the flower) andpurple flowers on a plant that reaches up to 5 feet in height and width..
• S. leucantha 'Pink Velour' (also known as 'Velour Pink' and 'Danielle's Dream') produces rosy pink tubular flowers withcontrasting spikes of white calyxes. It grows 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
• S. leucantha 'White Mischief' is a large variety with fuzzy white blooms. It grows 4 feet tall and up to 8 feet wide.
• S. leucantha 'Santa Barbara' is a compact variety of Mexican bush sage. Growing only 3 feet tall and wide, it is suitable for rock gardens and mixed shrub borders.

Pruning

For denser, more compact growth and abundant blooms, shear the Mexican bush sage two or three times during the spring and summer. Remove any dead, damaged, or scraggly stems. Deadheading flowersonce they fade may encourage the plant to bloom again in the autumn months.

In warmer climates, shear the plant to the ground in the winter to ensure it grows back quickly into a full-sized and bushy plant the next year. At the lower end of the plant's hardiness range, keep the dead growth intact until the spring; it insulates the plant against the winter cold.

Propagating Mexican Bush Sage

Mexican bush sage is propagated from cuttings taken in spring or summer. Propagation from seed is possible but if it's a cultivar, the seeds won't produce a plant that is true to the parent. Here's how to propagate Mexican bush sage with stem cuttings:

1. Use clean, sharp pruners to cut a piece of hardwood with four to five nodes.
2. Strip all but the top set of leaves.
3. Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone.
4. Plant the cuttings in a 4-inch pot filled with moist potting mix. Place the pot in a warm and and bright location but away from direct sunlight.
5. Keep the soil evenly moist. After a few weeks, a root system and new foliage should develop.
6. When the plant is several inches tall,harden it offbefore planting it outdoors in the late spring.

Overwintering

If the winter temperatures in your location stay slightly above freezing, there is no need to winterize the plant. If your Mexican bush sage suffers stem dieback in cold winter weather, cut the plant back in February; new growth will emerge in spring.

If your climate is too cold for Mexican bush sage to overwinter outdoors, move it inside before the first fall frost. Make sure it is in a pot with good drainage and has exposure to ample sunlight.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Mexican bush sage is susceptible to several pests and diseases. Pests include whiteflies, aphids, and spider mites. However, these insects usually attack Mexican bush sages grown in a greenhouse. The plant may also develop diseases such as rust and leaf spot.

How to Get Mexican Bush Sage to Bloom

This particular sage is well-known for its ability to produce an attractive display of bicolor flowers during late summer and early fall.

Bloom Months

Mexican bush sage typically blooms in July and August and into fall.

How Long Does Mexican Bush Sage Bloom?

Individual blooms last several days. The bush will continue to flower throughout the season.

What Do Mexican Bush Sage Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Mexican bush sage flower spikes are approximately 10 inches long and extend above their soft green foliage with a slight silvery tint.

The most common variety produces bi-color blooms with white corollas and purple calyces, although several varieties such as 'Midnight,' 'Pink Velour,' and 'White Mischief' yield deep purple, pink, and white blooms, respectively.

How To Encourage More Blooms

Full sun, rich soil, and proper moisture during dry periods is all you need to do to encourage a healthy bloom.

Caring for Mexican Bush Sage After it Blooms

Deadheading spent flowers is fine but hold off on pruning in late fall or winter. The dead growth insulates the plant's roots during the winter.

Deadheading Mexican Bush Sage Flowers

Deadhead the faded flowers to promote more full and healthy flowers.

Common Problems With Mexican Bush Sage

Mexican bush sage is generally low-maintenance and problem-free. It is even resistant to deer and rabbits.

Plant Leaves Falling Off

A likely cause for leaf drop is that the plant is infected with rust, a fungal disease that thrives in overly wet soil. Adjust your watering practices if you notice leaves falling off your Mexican bush sage.

Yellow Leaves

Like leaf loss, yellow leaves on your Mexican bush sage are often caused by overwatering or an overly nitrogen-rich fertilizer. To prevent this, mix at least 20% sand or grit with compost into your soil.

From: thespruce