Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara' is a nonhardy perennial first discovered in a garden in Santa Barbara, California. It features a compact growth habit, and its hairy, silver stems produce velvety, purple flower spikes with light lavender flowers. At the Chicago Botanic Garden, we find this plant very useful because it starts blooming in September, making it a great alternative to chrysanthemums in the landscape. As a member of the mint family, it has stiff, square stems and leaves scented like pine. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths all visit the flowers to gather nectar. This plant is deer and rabbit resistant and prefers full sun and slightly dry soils.