California Native Salvias – from Wildlands to Gardens
Thursday, April 17, 2025
7:00 – 8:00 PM (Via Zoom)
By John Whittlesey
Garden designer, nurseryman, author, and bee enthusiast
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The genus Salvia encompasses nearly 1,000 species worldwide. They are found throughout Asia, the Mediterranean, South Africa, North America, Central and South America, in varying habitats - from mountain meadows, Peruvian cloud forests, and dry deserts. California is home to 19 species, which grow in some of our hottest and driest ecosystems. These 19 species have given rise to numerous horticultural selections, making them popular plants in climate-appropriate home landscapes.
In this presentation, John will talk about the evolution and adaptation of Salvias generally, their specific California habitats, and the pollinators with whom they co-evolved. Because Salvias are beloved by gardeners everywhere, a section of John’s talk will explore Salvias for the California garden - species, hybrids and horticultural selections and the many reasons for growing them: colorful flowers, fragrant foliage, and the wealth of pollinators they attract.
John is a board member of the Friends of the Ahart Herbarium and author of The Plant Lovers Guide to Salvias (published by Timber Press). Recently retired from a career as a nurseryman, garden designer and landscape contractor, John spends his time on his 10-acre homestead studying and photographing bumble bees and observing the diversity of life to be found in a foothill, blue oak grassland ecosystem.
