Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Mexican Blue Sage
Mexican Blue Sage is a low, mounding sage with bright blue flowers over small, silvery leaves. It blooms heaviest in spring and early fall, with bursts through the summer, and hummingbirds visit the flowers. It stays about 1 to 2 feet tall and spreads by underground runners, so it fits the front of a bed or a small groundcover patch. Once it is rooted it needs little water.
Best for: the front of a flower bed, small groundcover patches, rock gardens and patio pots, and blue color in a hummingbird garden.
It stays low, so it works as a foreground plant in front of taller shrubs. The silvery leaves set off the short spikes of blue flowers.
It spreads by underground runners and fills in over time. That makes it a good small groundcover, a border plant or a rock garden filler.
Hummingbirds visit the blue flowers, and butterflies and bees come too. Bloom is heaviest in spring and early fall, with bursts in summer.
It needs soil that drains and does poorly in heavy clay. A hard freeze can strip its leaves, though it regrows from the roots. Runners widen the patch over time.
- Groundcover patch3 ft apart
- Bed or border4 ft apart
Water every 3 to 4 days for the first two weeks, then every 6 to 7 days. By weeks 7 and 8, water about every 10 to 14 days. After that, keep stretching the time between waterings.
It grows in full sun to part shade. It is drought tolerant once rooted, but it looks better with regular water. Water less often in winter.
Prune it in early spring. Trim off spent flower stalks to keep it tidy and blooming.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does Mexican blue sage get?
It forms a low mound about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It grows at a moderate pace and widens over time by underground runners.
Does Mexican blue sage spread?
Yes. It spreads by underground runners, which lets it fill in as a small groundcover. Plant it about 3 to 4 feet apart and let the runners fill in.
When does Mexican blue sage bloom?
It blooms heaviest in spring and again in early fall, with bursts of flowers through the summer. Trim off spent flower stalks to encourage the next flush.
Does Mexican blue sage need full sun or shade?
It grows in full sun to part shade, in soil that drains well. Pick a spot that does not stay wet after irrigation.
How much water does Mexican blue sage need?
Water more often for the first couple of months while it gets rooted. After that it needs little water, since it is very drought tolerant, and even less in winter.
What soil does Mexican blue sage need?
It needs soil that drains well and does poorly in heavy clay. If your yard is clay, plant it in a raised spot or pick another area.
How do you prune Mexican blue sage?
Cut back old stems in late winter or early spring. Trim off spent flower stalks as needed through the season.
How cold hardy is Mexican blue sage?
It is rated hardy to about 10°F to 15°F. A hard freeze can knock off its leaves, but it regrows from the roots, so wait for spring growth before you cut it back.
Does Mexican blue sage attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the blue flowers, and butterflies and bees do too. Trim off spent flower stalks to keep new ones coming.
Do Mexican blue sage leaves smell?
Yes. The small, silvery leaves give off a spicy scent when you brush or bruise them, so plant it along a path where you will brush past it.
What is the difference between Mexican blue sage and autumn sage?
Mexican blue sage is lower, about 1 to 2 feet, with silvery leaves and blue flowers. Autumn sage is about 2 to 3 feet with green leaves and red, pink or white flowers. Use blue sage at the front of a bed and autumn sage behind it.
Mexican Blue Sage for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Mexican Blue Sage has true sky-blue flowers on a low, silvery mound. It spreads by underground runners and blooms heaviest in spring and fall. Below is what to expect in a Valley yard, from size and spread to sun, water, pruning and cold.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Mexican blue sage in Phoenix
Mexican blue sage comes from high desert mountains in eastern Mexico. It takes full sun to part shade, little water once rooted and soil that drains well.
How big does Mexican blue sage get?
Plan on about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It forms a low, mounding clump of small silvery leaves that widens over time by runners.
When does Mexican blue sage bloom?
It blooms heaviest in spring and early fall, with bursts through the summer. The short spikes of blue flowers sit just above the silvery leaves.
Does Mexican blue sage spread?
Yes. It spreads by underground runners and fills in as a small groundcover. Use it along a border, in a rock garden or at the front of a bed.
How to prune Mexican blue sage
Cut back old stems in late winter or early spring. Trim spent flower stalks through the season to encourage more flowers.
Is Mexican blue sage drought tolerant?
Yes. Once it is rooted it needs little water and is very drought tolerant. The key is soil that drains, not heavy clay.
Mexican blue sage vs autumn sage
Mexican blue sage is lower, with silvery leaves and blue flowers. Autumn sage is taller, about 2 to 3 feet, with green leaves and red, pink or white flowers. Both draw hummingbirds to the garden.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.