Salvia Species, Greaseleaf Salvia, Largeflower Sage, Rock Sage

I have not grown this plant. Largeflower sage (Salvia vinacea) is native to New Mexico and Texas. It is a low growing suffrutescent (hav...Read Moreing a woody stem only at the base) plant that is about 30 cm in height. Its stems are slender. The 30 mm long by 25 mm wide leaves are glabrous above, slightly puberulent below and are the same color on the upper and lower surfaces. Usually truncate (leaf tip ending abruptly as if cut off at the end) at the base, they can be decurrent (running or extending downward along the stem). Numerous blooms are produced on short, congested spikes. The 12 to 13 mm long calyx is mostly a deep wine color and is greenish at the base. The calyx pedicel is short and deflexed. The 20 to 22 mm long, dark blue corolla extends far beyond the calyx. The upper lip is oblanceolate. It can be differentiated from Salvia pinguifolia by its (Salvia vinacea's) bloom having a much larger corolla with the upper lip being narrower, a wine-colored calyx, more congested inflorescence and leaves not being a lighter color on the undersides.

Above information source found on the Biodiversity Heritage Library Web Page; Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- , Vol. 16, p.170.

I could locate very little information about this plant on the internet.

I have not grown this plant. Rock Sage (Salvia pinguifolia, synonyms: Salvia ballotiflora var. pinguifolia, Salvia vinacea) is also know...Read Moren as greaseleaf salvia, shrub salvia and rocky sage. Salvia pinguifolia grows on the rocky limestone habitats of hillsides including among the rocks on canyon walls. It is native to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas (Counties: Hudspeth, Ellis).

Salvia pinguifolia is a woody shrub that has grayish green and pubescent leaves and new growth. Roundish and scalloped, the leaves are aromatic and are described by some as feeling greasy. The undersides are whitish due to small hairs being present. In late summer and fall, small flowers cover its branch tips. The flowers have pale purple to bluish-purple corollas with most of the corolla tubes hidden in the sepals. The upper corolla lips are puberulent. The flowers attract bees and butterflies. Salvia pinguifolia is drought tolerant when established, prefers rocky well drained soil and a protected south or western exposure. In late winter, it should be severely pruned as well as lightly pruned throughout the growing season to maintain a pleasing shape.

I have unable to locate additional information on internet sites except for the following:

It is easily differentiated from Salvia vinacea which has a much larger corolla, a narrower upper lip, a mostly wine-colored calyx, a more congested inflorescence and leaves not being a lighter color on the undersides. Source found on the Biodiversity Heritage Library Webpage; Contributions from the United States National Herbarium, Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1890- , Vol. 16, p.170.