Plant Finder

Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide

Other Names:  Munz's Sage

Description:

A beautiful, cascading, aromatic sage bearing clusters of light blue flowers, in dense whorls above the foliage in early spring; a compact, dense plant that thrives in various soil types and with little water; a dependable choice in the garden

Ornamental Features

Emerald Cascade San Diego Sage has masses of beautiful spikes of lavender tubular flowers with brick red calyces rising above the foliage from late winter to mid spring, which are most effective when planted in groupings. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its tiny fragrant narrow leaves remain light green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Emerald Cascade San Diego Sage is a multi-stemmed evergreen perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Emerald Cascade San Diego Sage is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Emerald Cascade San Diego Sage will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. Although it is technically a woody plant, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as a perennial in our climate if planted outdoors over the winter, usually regrowing from its base (crown) the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Emerald Cascade San Diego Sage is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.