Chaparral Sage

The Chaparral Sage, also called Cleveland Sage, is a small, evergreen shrub in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). Its small gray-green leaves and whorls of purple flowers are highly fragrant. Just one shrub can fill an entire garden with its scent on a warm summer afternoon. The tubular flowers provide nectar that hummingbirds love, and they also attract butterflies, bees, moths, and other pollinators, making them an important food source during the heat of summer.

It is native to chaparral and coastal sage scrub in Southern California and can survive on annual rainfall alone. For optimal growth, plant Cleveland sage on well-drained flats, bluffs, or gentle slopes. Once established, limit summer watering to no more than once per month. This sage is arguably one of the most fragrant varieties available.