Salvia leucantha

Mexican bush sage

Message of the Flower

The Vital Consenting to be Spiritualised

The Mother’s Comment

A great victory over the lower nature.

Spiritual Message by the Mother/ Quotes by Sri Aurobindo

Spirituality can only come by opening of the mind, vital and physical to the inmost soul, to the higher Self, to the Divine, and their subordination to the spiritual forces and instrumentation as channels of the inner light, the higher Knowledge and Power.

Sri Aurobindo, Letters on Yoga - I: Spiritual Evolution and the Supramental

All perfection of which the outer man is capable, is only a realising of the eternal perfection of the Spirit within him. We know the Divine and become the Divine, because we are That already in our secret nature.

Sri Aurobindo, The Synthesis of Yoga - I: The Four Aids

Colour

White to pale mauve, purple

Family

Lamiaceae

Person who named the flower

Cav

Flower Size

Flowers appear in dense, arching, terminal spikes that extend above the foliage, with racemes up to 10” long.

Flower Texture

Velvety texture, especially noted in the bracts.

Fragrance of Flower

Salvias are generally known for their aromatic properties.

Leaf Texture

Leaves have a velvety texture.

Leaf Arrangement

Linear, lance-shaped, gray-green leaves are borne in pairs on square stems.

Leaf Color

Soft mid-green with whitish, hairy undersides.

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Herbaceous perennial, often growing with multiple erect stems that may arch at their tips.

Life Cycle

Perennial in suitable climates but often grown as an annual where it is not winter-hardy.

Blooming Period

Late summer to frost.

Climate

Native to subtropical and tropical regions of central and eastern Mexico.

Water Requirements

Prefers moist but well-drained soils; drought-tolerant once established.

Soil Type

Performs best in average to rich, well-drained soils.

Temperature Ranges

Hardy in USDA Zones 8-10.

Sun or Shade

Full sun is preferred; tolerates some light afternoon shade.

Pollinators

Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Habitat

Native to Mexico and tropical Americas.

Role in the Ecosystem

Provides nectar for pollinators.

Ornamental

Valued for its attractive flowers and foliage, often used in borders and as a bedding plant.

Endangered Status

Not listed as endangered.