General Landscape Uses:
Primarily recommended for natural landscapes. Also a creeping groundcover in moist to relatively dry areas.
Ecological Restoration Notes: Although West Indian sage can be used to cover ground, it is weedy in nature and must be monitored.
Availability:
Rarely grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Small herbaceous wildflower, usually creeping along the ground.
Dimensions: About 3-6 inches in height. Spreading and forming large, open or dense patches several feet across.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Miami-Dade and Collier counties north to Palm Beach and Lee Counties, mostly within 30 miles of the coast; West Indies, Mexico, Central America and South America.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Habitats: Disturbed uplands and (rarely) hammock edges.
Soils: Moist, well-drained soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance: High; does not require any supplemental water once established.
Light Requirements: Light shade to full sun.
Flower Color: Blue.
Flower Characteristics: Semi-showy.
Flowering Season: Spring-fall.
Fruit: Inconspicuous nutlet.
Wildlife and Ecology: Nectar plant for butterflies.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from cuttings, division or seed.
Comments: This is commonly weedy and must be closely watched.
