Desert indigo sage
Salvia arizonica
Last reviewed: October 2026
Desert indigo sage (Salvia arizonica) is a perennial forb native to AZ, TX. It blooms in July, August, and September. The flowers draw bees and hummingbirds. It reads as an intentional, HOA-friendly planting in the right spot.
Toxicity unknown
Desert indigo sage (Salvia arizonica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
part shade
Water
low
Size
6"–18" H × 12"–24" W
Bloom
Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AZ, TX
Pollinators
bees, hummingbirds
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 458 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
A low, spreading perennial sage with small leaves and spikes of deep indigo-blue flowers that bloom with the summer monsoon.
Growing Desert indigo sage
Grow Desert indigo sage in part shade and low water. Mature plants reach 6 to 18 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Desert indigo sage is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.
Works well in: border planting, woodland edge bed, mixed perennial bed.
Wildlife value
Monsoon-season blooms are a nectar source for hummingbirds and native bees at a time when fewer other plants are flowering.
Common questions
- How much sun does Desert indigo sage need?
- Desert indigo sage grows best in part shade conditions.
- When does Desert indigo sage bloom?
- Desert indigo sage blooms in July, August, and September.
- Where is Desert indigo sage native?
- Desert indigo sage (Salvia arizonica) is native to AZ, TX, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What pollinators does Desert indigo sage attract?
- Desert indigo sage draws bees and hummingbirds.
- Is Desert indigo sage HOA-friendly?
- Desert indigo sage is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Desert indigo sage? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.