"Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland sage, Blue sage, Jim sage and Fragrant sage) is a perennial plant that is native to Southern California and northern Baja California, growing below 3,000 feet elevation in California coastal sage and chaparral habitat. The plant was named in 1874 by Asa Gray, honoring plant collector Daniel Cleveland.

Salvia clevelandii is an evergreen shrub that reaches 3.3 to 4.9 feet in height and width. The fragrant, ashy green leaves are obovate and rugose, growing less than 0.98 inch long. Flowers are on 12 inches spikes, with numerous whorls of upright amethyst blooms opening in June–July.

Salvia clevelandii is a popular California landscape plant, cultivated since the 1940s. Plants prefer dry summers, good drainage, and full sun, with a relatively short life span of five to ten years."

Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

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One of my favorite plants - it reminds me of something out of a Dr. Seuss book. The flowers are pompoms strung on a stem, one arising from the next. The leaves are the felty gray-green that is so typical of many desert plants, and they give off a very particular scent when crushed.

To say that the plant is aromatic is an understatement. I love the smell, some people don't - probably because it can be strong. I carried one home from a sale in my car once and it perfumed the whole car.

If you plant this flower, please remember that it is a desert plant and must be given excellent drainage or it will suffer from root rot.

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