Looking for a salvia that's something out of the ordinary? Salvia Africana-lutea, or beach sage, is just that. Rarely seen in our area, beach sage is a very tough, drought tolerant shrub.
Fragrant gray-green foliage is slightly ruffled and almost succulent looking. Rusty orange flowers that quickly fade to brown begin in early spring and continue sporadically through fall.
In addition to their unique color, flowers have a curious “withered” appearance even when fresh. Purple-tinged papery calyces remain attractive after petals fall, providing almost year-round interest. Native to coastal areas of South Africa, beach sage prefers sandy, loose soil.
Plant in full sun to part shade. Water occasionally and feed with an annual top-dressing of compost. Eventually reaching 4 to 6 feet tall, it should be trimmed back by at least a third in late spring to encourage new basal growth. Hardy to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Attractive to pollinators. Hard to find in garden centers but easily available by mail order. All in all, this is one eye-catching sage.
