I just came upon a good and large specimen of this tropical perennial from Mexico and Central America, often in pine woods in the mountains, in October 2021 still in full bloom, being used as an annual flower in southeast Pennsylvania. This "Greenwood' cultivar has light purple flowers with more white color showing than the mother species or some other cultivars. This species is much better known in the southwestern USA where it can be a perennial or an annual, depending on the zone. However, I did finally see this Mexican Bush Sage in southeast PA (Zone 6b) with this 'Greenwood' specimen, and last year I saw a number of potted plants of the "Santa Barbara' cultivar being sold at a nursery in northern Delaware (Zone 7a), also as annuals. It is hardy up to USDA Zone 8a, but it might survive a mild winter in a good warm spot with mulching farther north in Zones 6 or 7. Otherwise, it makes a great annual even if it must be replaced each year.

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