A close-up picture of Point Sal Purple Sage, Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal', focused on the flower whorl. The flowers are pale pink, but can range from this color through many shades, including mid-purple to dusky rose-purple. The spathes, calyces that protect the base of the flower, are arranged tightly in a rough barrel shape in two layers, mid-green, but densely covered in white fuzzy trichomes (plant hairs) that give them a pale green appearance. Some leaves and other calyces just under the flower whorl are the same color and level of fuzz. The leaves are somewhat out of focus, but some reveal the underside with visible veining and showing trichomes on the underside as well. The background is mostly blurry foliage and shadows, with a sign in the upper left with the words "Low Purple Sage" just barely legible.
A picture of Point Sal Purple Sage, Salvia leucophylla 'Point Sal', with a sign labeling the plant as "Low Purple Sage" in its center as well as the month and year of the planting. Just below and in front of the sign are leaves showing good detail. They are light to yellow-green, owing the higher albedo to a high density of short, soft trichomes (plant hairs) which cover the top and bottom of the leaves, the stems, and the calyces (not pictured in this image). The leaves are rugose (rumpled, rough-appearing) with distinctive scaly or leathery-looking wrinkles that seem to vary from leaf to leaf in how fine the texture is; older winter leaves are larger with a more open texture, while smaller spring leaves, exposed to hotter weather, are growing in more compact with much finer texture. One immature flower whorl is visible above the sign to the left. I am sorry, dear readers, that you cannot smell this plant from the photo.
Sorry for the delay! Here, have one of my very favorite garden plants! As you can see, the flowers are irresistible (the flowers are often found nibbled). Let's talk about Purple Sage 🧵
#photography #mint #salvia #leucophylla #wildflower #herb #california #garden #purple #sage #bloomscrolling
