Wild Sage (Lantana involucrata)
Common Name Wild Sage
Latin Name Lantana involucrata
Family Verbenaceae
Native Yes
Zone 8A-11
Height 4-8 Feet
Spread 4-8 Feet
Salt Water Tolerance Low
Salt Wind Tolerance Moderate
Drought Tolerance High
Soil Moist, well-drained sandy, limestone or organic soils
Sun Full Sun
Wildlife Attractant Butterflies and birds
Main Uses
The Wild Sage plant is a wonderful addition to your native garden. Plant this shrub near a patio or window where it can get full sun exposure and watch in awe as the butterflies flock towards it. The beautiful small sage like leaf and tiny flowers add some color and texture to your landscape.
If you are looking to establish a butterfly garden quickly, Wild Sage is perfect for this as it has a quick to moderate growth rate. Plant it alongside some Bahama Coffee and American Beautyberry and you have yourself a wonderful native butterfly garden.
Appearance
Wild Sage is a small shrub, growing anywhere from 4-8 feet high, with a similar spread. The leaf resembles the sage leaf, even smelling like so if crushed. It has tiny cluster flowers ranging from light pink and white, with yellow centers. Its fruit is a purple cluster, much like the Beautyberry.
This shrub requires full sun, and is salt wind tolerant, making it great for either a hammock or coastal garden. However, due to its low salt water tolerance, its best to plant Wild Sage a little inland from a direct coastline.
Wildlife Attractant
The Wild Sage shrub is a wonderful nectar plant for butterflies, attracting multiple species such as the Bahamian swallowtail, Florida white, and Large Orange Sulphur to name a few.
Birds love its fruit, and because it flowers and fruits all year round, it is a must for your native garden!
