Mexican bush sage

Questions about Mexican bush sage

Does Mexican bush sage need sun or shade?

Mexican bush sage grows in full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun a day).

It wants dry, sharply drained soil, on the lean side, with no feeding, and little watering once settled. Once settled in, it stands drought.

What zones does Mexican bush sage grow in?

USDA zones 8 to 10. It is hardy to zone 8, which means it survives winter nights down to about 20 °F (−7 °C).

Gardening in Canada? Use the USDA zone for your town: Canada's own zone map uses different numbers.

When does Mexican bush sage flower in my zone?

In zone 5 it flowers early September to early November. As an autumn flower it keeps much the same dates in every zone: it answers to shortening days and cool nights more than to the warmth of spring.

Worked out from Hopkins' bioclimatic law: spring arrives about four days later for each degree of latitude north, and one zone is roughly two degrees. A warm spring or a cold one moves any garden two weeks either way.

How far apart should Mexican bush sage be planted?

3½ ft (100 cm) apart, from the middle of one plant to the middle of the next. That is a little closer than its full width of 4 ft (120 cm), so a group knits into one patch.

It grows 4 ft (120 cm) tall. Give it the full distance from anything taller, or it will lean out towards the light.

How many Mexican bush sage plants do I need?

At 3½ ft apart, set out in staggered rows:

• 1 to fill 10 square feet (about 1 m²)
• 4 for a single row 10 ft (3 m) long
• 3 to fill a 4 × 8 ft bed on its own

In a mixed border, plant it as one, with clear ground around it: a feature plant is seen as an object, and a group of them is a thicket.

In the bed above, the planner used one in one group.

Is Mexican bush sage poisonous to dogs and cats?

No toxicity is recorded for dogs, cats, horses or people, according to NC State Extension.

"Not toxic" is not "edible": a pet that eats a lot of any plant can be sick.

Is there a native plant like Mexican bush sage?

Mexican bush sage comes from Mexico and Central America. These North American natives come closest to doing its job:

• Blue false indigo: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers late May to mid June, blue, not purple.
• Willowleaf sunflower 'First Light': the same job in a bed and the same flowering time; 10 in narrower, yellow, not purple.
• Deer grass: the same job in a bed and the same size; flowers early August to early October, tan, not purple.

Matched the way the planner's Swap button matches plants: the same job in a bed, then size, then flowering time.

Do deer eat Mexican bush sage?

Mostly not. NC State lists it as resistant to deer and rabbits. No plant is proof against a hungry deer in a hard winter, but this one is low on the menu.

What does Mexican bush sage look like in winter?

Mexican bush sage holds some of its leaves into winter, more in a mild year or a sheltered spot, and they look tired by March. Cut the old ones off as new growth starts.

Is Mexican bush sage good for bees and butterflies?

Mexican bush sage is visited by pollinators, butterflies and hummingbirds.