General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Wet Mesic
Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 8a -12.2 °C (10 °F) to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Plant Height: 4-6 feet
Plant Spread: 4-6 feet
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Evergreen
Fragrant
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Purple
Other: blue-violet
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Fall
Late fall or early winter
Other: Deadheading flowers ensures more flowering throughout the season.
Uses: Cut Flower
Will Naturalize
Suitable as Annual
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Sow in situ
Can handle transplanting
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Division
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs repotting every 2 to 3 years
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Child plants: one child plant

Image
Common names
  • Mexican Sage

'Limelight' was a featured
Plant of the Day for October 12, 2015.
Photo Gallery
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-18
Location: In my garden
Date: 2007-11-02
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2019-03-16
At a local nursery
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2020-04-12
The buds on this salvia are huge, and the leaves look similar to

Date: 2016-10-03
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-29-2020
Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-29-2020

Date: 2016-10-18
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2020-05-17
Leaves & flowers on this salvia are huge. It has outgrown the pot
Location: in my garden
Date: 2020-10-07
'Limelight' Salvia
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-29-2020
Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-29-2020
Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'
Photo by wcgypsy

Date: October
Location: Northern California, Zone 9b
Date: 2020-05-17
Flowers on this salvia are a wonderful color and very large.
Location: In my Mom's garden
Date: 2011-10-12
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-16
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-13
Location: in my garden
Date: 2020-10-07
'Limelight' Salvia
Location: in my garden in Oklahoma City
Date: 09-29-2020
Salvia mexicana 'Limelight'

Date: October

photo credit: Scott Zona
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 2011-10-07
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: September
Full sun, 5 ft high and 5 ft wide
Location: Austin ,TX
Date: September
full sun, 5 ft tall and 5 ft wide
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Date: September 2011
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-13
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-13
Location: Western Washington
Date: 2016-11-06
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Date: September 2011
Location: Ocean Springs, MS
Date: September 2011
Location: AZ
Date: 2016-06-08
New plant this year from 3.5" starter plant, I am very impressed
Location: AZ
Date: 2016-06-08
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-01
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-01
Container grown plant.
Location: Western Washington
Date: 2016-11-06

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy

Photo courtesy of Annie's Annuals and Perennials
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic

Courtesy Robin's Salvias
  • Uploaded by vic
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by Bubbles (Austin, Tx - Zone 8b) on Feb 25, 2013 12:22 PM concerning plant:
    This has been a reliable, pest-free perennial with low water requirements. I have it growing in full sun, where it is also open to the elements of wind and cold. It freezes to the ground each winter and comes back in late February. It will grow to about six feet tall and six feet wide by late summer in my garden. The long bloom spikes consist of gorgeous electric blue flowers emerging from lime green calyxes. It will bloom from late summer to the first hard freeze. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and neighbors (for those showy blooms).

    This salvia was discovered growing in Quertaro, Mexico by Robert Ornduff in 1978. It is also known as Lolly Jackson salvia as it supposedly was found growing in her front yard garden.
  • Posted by RickCorey (Everett WA 98204 - Zone 8a) on Oct 10, 2011 7:30 PM concerning plant:
    According to Richard F. Dufresne, Salvia mexicana `Limelight’ may grow to 4 feet in full sun, with 18" spikes. He gives the hardiness zone as "8 (7?)".

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Disconnect with plant height? by eclayne May 7, 2012 11:32 AM 2

« Add a new plant to the database

» Search the Salvias Database: by characteristics or by cultivar name

« See the general plant entry for Salvias (Salvia)

« Visit the Agastache and Salvias forum

« The Salvias Database Front Page

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by RootedInDirt and is called "Botanical Gardens"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.