Salvia leucophylla
Purple sage, Purple Sage
(c) C T Johansson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Salvia leucophylla (Purple sage) is a native California shrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by rose-lavender flowers and dense branched hairs distinctive.
Purple sage is a California native shrub found in southern Central Coast, South Coast, western Transverse Ranges, and San Gabriel Mountains in dry, open hills and sea bluffs at elevations of 30 to 1,250 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces rose-lavender flowers in dense clusters 1.5 to 4 centimeters wide with delicate, intricate branching. Growing as a prostrate to erect shrub less than 1.5 meters tall with dense, branched hairs, it has a distinctive architectural form. Its leaves are lance-oblong, 2 to 8 centimeters long, with puckered surfaces, slightly truncate to cordate bases, and small rounded teeth occasionally rolled under the leaf margin. The fruit is small, 2 to 3 millimeters long, in shades of brown or dark gray.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; rose-lavender flowers and dense branched hairs distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, open hills, sea bluffs
Elevation: 30-1250 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Monterey, San Diego, San Mateo, Kern, Contra Costa, Fresno
Outside California: Baja California
Bloom period
Salvia leucophylla blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Gambelia: Salvia has opposite leaves and square stems (mint family), while Gambelia has alternate leaves.; vs Encelia: Salvia has tubular two-lipped flowers, while Encelia has yellow daisy-like flower heads.; vs Artemisia: Salvia has showy tubular flowers, while Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous flowers in narrow spikes.; vs Trichostema: Salvia has flowers in interrupted whorls, while Trichostema has long curved stamens protruding from flowers.; vs Stachys: Salvia typically has grayish aromatic leaves, while Stachys has green wrinkled leaves and denser flower spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salvia leucophylla native to California?
Yes. Salvia leucophylla is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salvia leucophylla bloom?
Salvia leucophylla blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Salvia leucophylla grow?
Salvia leucophylla occurs in Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of 30-1250 m.
What plant family does Salvia leucophylla belong to?
Salvia leucophylla is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Salvia.
What habitat does Salvia leucophylla grow in?
Salvia leucophylla grows in Dry, open hills, sea bluffs.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.