Salvia Pt. Sal Spreader in the Firescape Garden in Santa Barbara.
Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal Spreader' was introduced into the nursery trade by San Marcos Growers in 1987. It has gray-white foliage and pink flowers. Out in the open this plant is a low spreading groundcover but if pruned or allowed to scramble over other plants it can grow to 4+ tall. It was collected by Dr. Dale Smith on Point Sal in Santa Barbara County. Another Salvia leucophylla selection that was also found on Point Sal is called Salvia leucophylla 'Amethyst Bluff'. It is a larger and more upright (To 5 feet tall and 15 feet wide) plant with vivid purple-pink flowers in spring. Salvia leucophylla 'Amethyst Bluff' was collected by Carol Bornstein was distributed as a Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Plant Introduction. We grew Salvia leucophylla 'Amethyst Bluff' for several years but discontinued growing it because we felt that its eventual size was too large a plant for most gardens.
