Desert Sage (Salvia dorrii) is a gorgeous compact, woody subshrub valued for its striking silver-gray, aromatic foliage and brilliant purple blossoms. These blossoms will last from late spring through early or mid summer, but the interest is extended by the persistent brachts that remain on the plant even after the blooms fade! Growing 1–3 feet tall and wide, it forms a tidy mound of fragrant, evergreen leaves that provide year-round texture and contrast in waterwise gardens, as well as being a magnet for native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Desert Sage is a beautiful addition to dry garden beds and borders, rock gardens, Mediterranean gardens, naturalized plantings, and is suitable for slopes and erosion control.
Photo Credit: Walter Siegmund
Desert Sage, Salvia dorrii
Irrigation Requirement: Very Low (Water to Establish)
Mature Size: 1 - 3' tall and 1 - 4' wide
Spacing: 3'
Bloom Colors: Purple
Bloom Season: May - July
Hardiness Zone: 5 - 9
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Deer Resistant: Yes
Salt Tolerant: No
Soils: Well-drained sandy or loam soils. Clay soil should be amended for drainage and be kept dry.
Plants in the Salvia genus are known host plants for 7 pollinators in northern Utah. Salvia dorrii provides pollen and nectar for a variety of native pollinators and habitat for birds and small animals.