Salvia chamaedryoides, more commonly known as Germander sage, Mexican blue sage or blue oak sage, is a versatile ornamental shrub with the most vibrant, true blue flowers that will catch the eye of any gardener. A subshrub that has a small dense mounding and spreads up to two feet tall and four feet wide. It grows slowly and tends to mound towards the middle with branches spreading out along the ground. Small narrow long gray-green leaves and dark blue flowers appear almost year-round except in cold seasons when the plant drops its leaves.
It is native to the Chihuahuan Desert, 7000ft high above sea level in the Sierra Madre mountain range in Mexico. That’s one pretty extreme environment, so how can this perennial salvia grow in our gardens? Don’t be put off by its arid origins!
Salvia chamaedryoides has adapted to a full range of climate zones, making its home across Europe and North America, and especially California. It’s easy to grow and will attract a multitude of butterflies, bees and hummingbirds to your garden.
