california native flora

Lepechinia Calycina – California Pitcher Sage

Click Image To Enlarge

Pitcher Sage is a fast growing California native plant found in chaparral habitats. The white and pink flowers look a bit like the foxgloves I used to see a lot in Scottish woodland. Pitcher Sage isn’t as toxic though, so that’s nice.

I picked up this Lepechinia Calycina specimen from the Matilija Nursery in Moorpark in December and it seems to be settling in nicely in part shade. The leaves are fragrant, you can smell them when you water the plant. Watering is something I shouldn’t have to do very often though, this plant is drought tolerant once established. It could grow up to 4′ high and it may be necessary to keep it tidy by pruning, to which it responds well. This is another plant attractive to hummingbirds.