Salvia leucantha 'Midnight' is a Mexican bush sage featuring dark purple calyces (bracts that surround the flower) and purple flowers on a plant that can reach up to 5 feet in height and width. This cultivar is drought tolerant once established. Chemicals in the leaves repel deer and rabbits, while the nectar attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

Mexican bush sage has been used in our autumn landscapes for several years. Although it is a shrubby perennial of coniferous forests in Mexico, the Chicago Botanic Garden uses it in annual displays in September to November, when it is covered by hundreds of attractive flower spikes. The plants have narrow light green leaves that are silvery beneath. The small white flowers emerge from densely fuzzy buds in spikes that are 6 to 10 inches long. Cuttings can be taken and the plants are rooted again for the following year's display.