Lepechinia salviae

Lepechinia salviae, locally known as Pakaha, or Pitchersage by English speakers, is a beautiful perennial bushy plant native to central Chile, similar to sage. It should be tried in our more Mediterranean climates. It is still very rarely cultivated in Europe. Forming a large clump of aromatic foliage, it offers abundant, colourful, and prolonged flowering from late summer until the first frosts. It can be acclimated in gardens which are not hit by strong frosts, provided it is given well-drained soil, in a raised bed, or in a rock garden, for example.  Growing it in a large pot that will be stored away from frost during the winter allows it to be grown in many regions.

Lepechinia salviae belongs to the family Lamiaceae, and it is native to coastal areas of central Chile where it is found in a region called matorral, a kind scrubland that is not too dry, on sandy and humus-rich soil. It is a woody-based perennial that develops into a clump of leafy stems reaching up to 90 cm (35in) in all directions. Its square-shaped stems are brownish to reddish in colour, covered with a bloom. They bear leaves that are triangular in shape, thick, slightly wavy, and grey-green in colour. When crushed, they emit a surprising, rather pleasant scent of acidic lemon. In not too cold climates, the foliage persists in winter. Flowering generally begins in late August and continues until the end of October, or even until November if there is no frost. Majestic dark-coloured, branching flower stems emerge from the foliage. They are adorned with numerous small tubular two-lipped magenta flowers enclosed in a dark-coloured calyx. Lepechinia is hardy to -5/-8 °C (23/17.6°F), in a sheltered position and well-drained soil.

This rare and beautiful false sage deserves to be tried in Mediterranean gardens, planted in a large rock garden or raised bed. It can be associated with lovely bushes such as Leucophyllum frutescens, Ceratostigma griffitii, shrub mallows, Teucrium fruticans Azureum, Artemisia arborescens, Perovskia, or shrub sages, all of which appreciate the same well-drained soils. Lavenders and evergreen agapanthus will also make lovely companions in a pink and blue flower scheme. Elsewhere, it can be placed on the patio in a large pot, to be stored away from strong frosts during winter.