Salvia carduacea - Thistle Sage

Salvia carduacea is an annual that is native to the dry inland portions of California. Thistle sage blooms in the middle spring months. Good soil drainage conditions are a must for Salvia carduacea to thrive in the home garden. Seed germinates in disturbed areas so the Thistle Sage can be added to your wildflower mix with some high likelihood of success. The prickles of the Thistle Sage are not as sharp as they look. The contrasting orange anthers and fringed purple flowers make Salvia carduacea such a lively color arrangement all by itself. Most all of the color wheel rules are broken within the space of a single flower. Salvia carduacea is a great addition to the Butterfly Garden attracting the Painted Lady, Coudless Sulfur, the California Dogface, the Sara Orangetip, the Umber Skipper Butterfly, and the Northern White SkipperThe first photo of Salvia carduacea was taken in the Elkhorn Valley portion of Carrizo Plain. The second photograph was taken along the old Ridge Route above the Grapevine section of I-5.