Aromatic, sculptural, and seriously underused, Lepechinia fragrans is a California-native shrub with the kind of quiet presence that steals the show. Soft, gray-green felted leaves release a heady, sage-like fragrance the moment they're brushed, while slender stems carry long parades of pale lavender to dusty-pink tubular flowers from spring into summer. This Channel Islands endemic grows into a relaxed, mounding shrub about 4 to 5 feet tall, with all the elegance of a Mediterranean herb and none of the fussiness.
Fragrant Pitcher Sage thrives in full sun to part shade in lean, well-drained soils and shrugs off summer drought once established. It's deeply deer-resistant, beloved by hummingbirds and other pollinators, and adds wonderful evergreen structure to dry gardens. Hardy in zones 8-10, it appreciates a light pruning after bloom to keep its shape.
Plant it in a hot, dry border with other California natives like buckwheat, ceanothus, and salvias, or use it to soften the edge of a path where its scent will reward every passerby. A graceful, fragrant treasure for the water-wise garden.
Explore more California Native Shrubs & Trees.
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Brand:Annie's AnnualsCategory:Annie's AnnualsSKU:aa428Tags:4-inch, AnniesAnnuals, Bloom Season:Spring, Bloom Season:Summer, Features:California Natives, Features:Fragrant, Features:Rare / Rarities, Flower Color:Blue-Purple, Flower Color:Pale Lavender, Flowering, Fragrant Pitcher Sage, Herb, Island Pitcher Sage, Lepechinia fragrans, Life Cycle:Perennial, NEW, NEW_ITEM, Pitcher Sage, Plant Usage:Plants for Cutting, Shrub, Shrub & Tree, Sun Requirements:Part Shade, Sun Requirements:Part Sun, Sun Requirements:Sun, USDA Zone:10, USDA Zone:8, USDA Zone:9, Water Requirements:Low Water, Water Requirements:No Summer Water, What's New