Salvia corrugata

Salvia corrugata is a perennial shrub native to Columbia, Peru, and Ecuador, growing at 8000-9800 ft elevation. It was brought into horticulture about 2000 as a result of a collecting trip to South America in 1988. All the plants in cultivation today are from six seeds that germinated from that trip.

Salvia corrugata reaches 9 ft in its native habitat, and 5-6 ft in cultivation. It has egg-shaped deeply corrugated evergreen leaves that are 4.5 in by 1.5 in, dark green on the top surface, and light veining with pale tan-colored fine hairs underneath. The brilliant purple-blue flowers are 1 in long, with a small dark purple and green calyx. The flowers grow in congested whorls, with 6-12 flowers on each 3-4 in inflorescence.