Viva Hummingbird Sage! Maximal, Magenta Blooms and Bold Fragrance
Updated December 2022. By Cassy Aoyagi: Years ago, it felt like Hummingbird Sage could supplant roses, camellias, and birds of paradise as the preferred bloom of Angelenos. She now has a leg-up in securing this role: the Pantone Institute has named her signature magenta its Color of the Year!
The Institute notes that its Viva Magenta “vibrates with vim and vigor.” We agree! (…and we forgive The New York Times for referring to a color so authentic to LA as “the color no one asked for coming to a world where no one lives.” Clearly jealous!)
Beyond its distinctive Viva Magenta, Hummingbird Sage exemplifies other emerging trends. For those moving toward maximalism, I cannot think of a better bloom. Everything about her is maximal – except the water, time and attention it takes to keep her happy, of course.
Hummingbird Sage’s bold, dense scent emanates from her leaves as well as her blooms. If you touch her, it will be with you all day. Her blooms are magic wands covered in round bloom-filled seed heads. They appear substantial next to those of other native sages, and they can grow tall enough to give you a kiss! Like her blooms, each of Hummingbird Sage’s leathery leaves feels expansive when compared to sister sages. As if those charms don’t max-out your love for her, Hummingbird Sage will slowly spread to fill sunny or shady space, filling your garden with maximal green.
To see Hummingbird Sage in context, tour the Forbes Mountain Retreat, Garden of the Setting Sun, and the Taylor’s Lush La Canada Meadow.
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