Once you start growing salvias you’ll find it difficult to stop. Every variety I grow adds so much to my garden, but none are more spectacular than the Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha). Those growing in my garden begin blooming in mid-August and continue until frost. The plant easily matures to 3 to 4 feet each year and has little or no problem with pests. If height is an issue, there are also a few varieties that stay compact such as ‘Santa Barbara’, which tops out at 3 feet.

In climates where this plant is marginally cold hardy, mulch it heavily after cutting back the frost-burned stems in late fall. If you have a mild winter there is a good chance the plant will return the following spring with beautiful results. In cold climates it’s worth it to plant Mexican sage each year as an annual.