Plant Database
Half-ear Sage
Salvia semiatrata
Salvia semiatrata is a striking, herbaceous perennial (or semi-shrub) native to the highlands of Zacatecas, Mexico, prized for its exceptionally large, colorful flower spikes and unique, multicolored blooms. This distinctive sage forms an upright, clumping mound of medium to large, heart-shaped, green leaves with heavily textured, wrinkled surfaces. From mid-summer through fall, it produces tall, robust, branching stems bearing large, airy, interrupted flower spikes (whorls) of showy, two-lipped, tubular flowers in a captivating combination of deep violet, purple, magenta, and pale blue with prominent green or maroon calyxes, creating a stunning, complex display. The nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. With its dramatic floral architecture, long bloom season, and good heat tolerance once established, it is an outstanding choice for perennial borders, back-of-border plantings, cottage gardens, pollinator gardens, and as a striking specimen plant.