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Lepechinia fragrans 'El Tigre' &
Lepechinia calycina 'Rocky Point'
by Kelly Marshall (www.kmgardendesign.com)
Two of the shrubs in my garden that I'm always asked about, especially in bloom, as they are right now, are Lepechinia fragrans 'El Tigre' (El Tigre Pitcher Sage) and Lepechinia calycina 'Rocky Point' (Rocky Point Pitcher Sage).
There's something about the soft, fuzzy, slightly minty/mostly sweet smelling leaves and dangling pendulous light lavender pink blooms that even the most discriminating gardener cannot resist.
These shrubs look light and airy, maybe even girly, fitting in nicely in a cottage or casual garden setting.
 | | Lepechinia fragrans 'El Tigre' |
The larger of the two shrubs is Lepechinia fragrans 'El Tigre,' (left) coming in close to 6' tall and wide by the end of the growing season. Native to the Southern California Coast and Channel Islands, this is a chaparral plant supposedly only hardy to around freezing. Since we've been down to 18 degrees in my garden in the past couple of years, I would have to disagree on that point. However, this plant can't take full sun in our hot inland climate, so don't let the word chaparral fool you. Mine does well in light morning sun and afternoon dappled shade, getting deeply watered about once a week during summer. I do find the branches to be brittle so you must be careful when working around the plant or you may suddenly find yourself with lots of broken branches and very little plant left. I've also found that if I deadhead old bloom spikes and carefully remove old branches after the first summer bloom, I often get a fall re-bloom that is just as dazzling. My resident hummingbirds and bumblebees agree. In very late winter or early spring, I cut back about 1/3rd of the plant to keep it looking lush and encourage denser growth at the base since it can be a bit leggy by late Fall.
 | | Lepechinia calycina 'Rocky Point' |
Lepechinia calycina 'Rocky Point' is a pitcher sage selection from Monterey County. This shrub has more of a mounding habit, and tops out between 2-3' tall and 4-5' wide. The blooms are similar in size and form to 'El Tigre', but are an even paler pink or white with a hint of pink. It is native to both chaparral and woodland areas, but again, seems to do best in our climate in light shade or morning sun only. In my garden it is in a spot with good drainage and gets watered deeply every 7-10 days. Last year was the first for this lady in my garden, and she remained diminutive and sweet (very ladylike), so I haven't had to cut her back yet. I've read that she'll take heavy pruning, and I guess we shall see when the time comes.
The best news about both of these plants is that they are becoming much easier to locate, after years of only finding them at native plant sales. Now, this is not the part where I write that 'I had to WALK both ways, in the SNOW...' to find this plant back in my younger years. But I did drive two hours once, just to get one for a client, because I think they are so worth growing. I hope you give one or both of these lovely natives a try in your own shade garden.
We have a modest selection in the Nursery awaiting a spot in your garden.
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