Plant in full sun to light shade and irrigate occasionally to infrequently – is drought tolerant along the coast and size can be controlled by judicious irrigation practices. Evergreen to 25° F but should prove root hardy the same as the species which tolerated 18° F in the winter 1990 freeze and could possibly go lower with mulching. Cut back annually in late winter to early spring to maintain best appearance and trim older flowers that weight stems down to encourage more upright growth and a tidier appearance. Useful in cut flower arrangements fresh and when dried retain flower and calyx colors.

The species Salvia leucantha is reported to inhabit a wide area in tropical and subtropical pine forests in central and eastern Mexico. The name Salvia comes from the Latin name used by Pliny for the plant and comes from the Latin word 'salvere' meaning "to save" in reference to the long-believed healing properties of several Sage species. The specific epithet comes from the Latin words 'leucos' meaning "white" and 'anthos' meaning flower. This Danielle’s Dream cultivar originated in the farm garden of Ian Smith near Lichtenburg in the North West Province of South Africa. Mr. Smith noted several variable seedlings that had cropped up around a plant of the standard form of Salvia leucantha and so contacted South African Salvia specialist Jenny Ferreira, who operates the Klein Optenhorst Open Garden in Wellington in the Western Cape of South Africa. Together they coined the name 'Danielle's Dream' for the pink flowering plant, honoring Ian Smith's daughter and 'White Mischief' for a pure white cultivar. When San Marcos Growers received them to trial in 2006 the plants were labeled Salvia leucantha 'White Mischief' and 'Wellington Pink' and when the applying for Plant Breeders Rights the names used were 'FerWhite' and 'FerPink' (for Jenny Ferreira and the flower color) and these names were then used on the US plant patent applications, likely with the idea that the original names could be trademarked as marketing names.

Salvia leucantha 'FerWhite' did not proceed through the patent process but 'FerPink' received US Plant Patent PP21,734 in February 2011. Somewhat confusing are names 'Velour Pink' and 'Velour White' thought to have originated in Australia that these plants are occasionally labeled as here in the US. Though we no longer grow this plant, we continue to grow the species Salvia leucantha the dark purple flowered form Salvia leucantha 'Midnight' and the compact form with intermediate flower color Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara'. 

This information about Salvia leucantha Danielle's Dream ['Ferpink'] PP21,734 displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.