Lepechinia hastata - Mexican Pitcher Sage
Lepechinia hastata may tolerate some sun, but the Mexican Pitcher Sage really seems at its best in high shade. The large leaves belie how hardy this Pitcher Sage is in our climate. Plants were not damaged when temperatures dropped into the low 20°s;'s. The fragrant gray leaves and beautiful sage-like purple flowers are great reasons to be growing this shrub. It seems like the Pitcher Sage is almost always in bloom. I cut off the older flowering spikes before they are entirely spent because it tends to hold onto the old blossoms and this pruning encourages more blooms. Butterflies like the Mournful Duskywing, Spring Azure, White Checkered Skipper, Northern White Skipper, and Cloudless Sulfur will often be attracted too.
Purple flowers and grey foliage of Lepecinia hastata - Mexican Pitcher Sage. High resolution photos are part of our garden image collection.
Plants from the Lepechinia Genus featured on this site:
Lepecinia calycina * White Pitcher Sage, California Pitcher Sage, Woodbalm
Lepechinia fragrans El Tigre * Island Pitcher Sage
Lepechinia hastata * Mexican Pitcher Sage
Lepechinia salviae * Chilean Pitcher Sage