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California Native Plant

Salvia 'Allen Chickering'

Blue Bush Sage

Plant photo of: Salvia 'Allen Chickering'
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Information by: The Plant Nerd Inc.        Photographer: Susan Frommer

 

Description

The Allen Chickering Sage is a perennial shrub that grows 5' high and wide. It has blue flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. This shrub is native to California and is drought tolerant.

Maintenance Tips

Salvia ‘Allen Chickering’ is a hybrid of the California native Cleveland Sage. It is a woody sage that can grow into a dome shape 5' tall and wide. The tall flower stalks emerge in the spring and are very attractive to hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. It performs best in a sunny location with the space to reach its full mature size. Once the flowers have faded, the spent stalks can be deadheaded to keep the shrub looking tidy and encourage additional flowers. Woody shrubs tend to become dense with lots of cross-branching, so thinning out the branching and allowing sunlight to the interior will benefit the plant and will encourage new, green growth. This shrub can take more aggressive hedging; cutting back by about a third in the winter to keep the nice dome shape.

 

Plant Type

Shrub, Perennial

Height Range

3-6'

Flower Color

Blue, Violet

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

Leaf Color

Grey Green

Bark Color

Grey

Fruit Color

n/a

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

Water

Low

Growth Rate

Fast

Soil Type

Sandy, Loam, Rocky

Soil Condition

Average, Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral

Adverse Factors

Attracts Bees

Design Styles

Mediterranean, Ranch, Seascape, Spanish, Woodland

Accenting Features

Fragrance

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

Location Uses

Entry, Perennial Border, Patio, Walkways, With Rocks

Special Uses

Cut Flowers, Erosion Control, Mass Planting

Attracts Wildlife

Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Water Saving Tip:

Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways.