Real S. clevelandii as found in nature is not very large. The huge ones so often seen in nurseries and native plant gardens are hybrids.

I bought several S clevelandii Baja at the RSABG sale last year and the year prior and have had about 50% survival...which is about normal for me with this species at my location...probably too close to the coast. The three that have survived are dwarf plants, 1' x 18", so they would totally work for the small garden gardener. Flowers are stunning as to be expected from clevelandii. The images were taken in June of 2010, blooming a bit earlier than some of my other clevelandiis.

Here is a link that might be useful: S. clevelandii 'Baja'

I don't think a coastal location should matter. They reportedly grow (for example) at Torrey Pines State Reserve and at Tijuana River National Estuarine Reserve (probably planted). I've seen planted Clevelands at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, which is part of a water treatment facility next to a coastal lagoon. It's been awhile since I saw them. They may be hybrids. In my personal situation (well inland), mine are planted on a slope in my yard, and success or failure appears to be related to drainage, which varies greatly over a few feet.

I'm pretty close to the coast - no salt spray, but foggy. So far, no problems with salvia, but my soil is pretty sandy. Perhaps salviakeeper is in a clay pocket.

S. clevelandii is just plain old finnicky at my location which is a bummer. I do have some loamy soil on the prop but my sage fields are pretty well drained. Maybe it's the minerals in the soil or something. I'm baffled but still still trying new varieties and companion plantings. I think i've tried every strain/cultivar out there with a label. Winnifred G does okay and is the only variety i've found that sows survivors here, Baja is hanging on in miniature. The good thing is that hybrids do great so the hummingbirds n bees get some late season flower nectar.