California Sagebrush is one of the premiere plants for Los Angeles. The majority of LA City lives within a few miles of a place where this plant used to grow. It is widespread and highly aromatic and it’s a shame that this plant isn’t used more often in gardens. This plant is so widespread it defines the name of its ecosystem— Coastal Sage Scrub; where the Sage references Sagebrush, and not Salvia.

Sagebrush is an excellent texture plant with finely divided foliage in the pale green with a touch of blue. Mix it against dark greens like Ceanothus, in grassy spaces or to set off hedges of Toyon, Coffeeberry and Prunus. Give an occasional watering in summer to keep it from going fully drought deciduous, which is why many people stray away from this plant. Plant it in a place where you can have access to enjoy it’s scent and watch the bees pollinate it in the late summer, when many plants are no longer in blossom . Prune occasionally but not deeply into old wood. Deadhead in the early winter to remove spent blooms (enjoy their scent) and to stimulate new growth; this can also be an opportunity to tip prune or lightly head back branches that are going out of bounds.

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