If you are in California zone 9, you should be fine as long as you provide both soil and air drainage. This species is a distinct disjunct with its cousins S. chamaedryoides, S. lycioides, S. muelleri, S. coahuilensis, and S. chionophylla, all of which are on the Chihuahuan side of the Sierras (Rocky Mountains to us). These have a similar culture.

Thanks for the reply Rich. I'm not so worried about providing proper summer conditions, but I'm sure that we get much cooler and damper winter weather than it normally experiences off the coast of Baja.

I plan on putting it in the ground and will give it very good drainage and southern exposure, but I can't control the consecutive days of fog that we sometimes get that time of year. Other arid/semi arid species such as S. greggii, apiana, and leucantha do great here.

It was only a few dollars, so I guess I'll do what I can and keep my fingers crossed...

Thanks again,

Mike

The Salvia cedrosensis "Baja Blanca" looks like it might just be the right plant for under my Fremontodendron. It's a small list of plants that can go 6 months without water like the Fremontodendron needs.

Just an update... When I bought my plant a couple of weeks ago (in a 2" pot; most likely a rooted cutting) there was no evidence of budding/flowering.

Here it is today. Sorry about the contrasty image, but I didn't have time to set up the picture properly before I went to work this AM...

Mike

Oooo, so pretty! Love those leaves, too. Do they smell good? :)

Brenda

Mike,

That is a beautiful picture! I tried to grow this in the UK, but it was very reluctant to flower. Good luck with this.

Robin.

Thanks Brenda and Robin!

The leaves do have a fairly delicate "pineappley" scent. Not too strong. It's been a while since I've grown Pineapple Sage, so I can't really say that it smells similar. It reminds me a bit of Pineapple-Weed, Chamomilla suaveolens, but much less overpowering.

I still haven't chosen an exact location in the desert garden for it (I'm a little afraid to commit). Hopefully it will survive the relatively mild winters we get here in Sacramento...

Mike

Here's what Betsy Clebsch says about your plant in her book, Mike (it sounds like it'll be happy here in Sac!) -

"...it is able to withstand flaming sunlight and searing temperatures as well as battering rains and wind. It thrives in full sun when planted in gritty soil on the south side of a rocky mound. The rocks give off reflected heat and supply some small protection from the wind. Water the plant regularly until well established, after which only occasional water is necessary. I have not grown the plant long enough to determine its hardiness, but it has survived temperatures in the low 30s F. Propagation is by seed or cuttings."

Brenda

Just putting a 'Baja blanca' in my yard, looks to be a great addition to a drought tolerant garden.

I bought the last 2 S. cedrosensis plants at the Cabrillo sale last weekend. I had been on the lookout for it for a while! They are about to flower. The stems seem pretty brittle; some broke off on the trip home. I am trying to root them.