Lepechinia
( leh - peh - CHIN - ee - uh )
At-A-Glance InformationCommonly called Pitcher Sage or Pitcher Plant, this evergreen shrub needs partial shade in warmer climates and little to no water. They reach 6 feet tall and just as wide, and have a rustic native look. Pitcher Sage is mostly native to California's Coast Ranges and have white to pink or lavender blossoms. Deer do not seem to like this plant.
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Lepechinia Species and Varietals
The genus Lepechinia includes around species and is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae (Mint).Pitcher Sage grows best in zones 7-9 and 14-24 though this can vary depending on the species. For further information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
Lepechinia hastata (Baja Pitcher Sage, Mexican Pitcher Sage) This species of Pitcher Sage grows well in zones 7-9, 14-24 and H1 and is native to Mexico. In Hawai'i, this shrub is called 'pakaha'. It spreads via rhizomes and has arrow-shaped leaves and purple-red flowers. Bloom is most profuse in summertime, but it will flower sporadically throughout the rest of the year. |
Caring for and pruning Lepechinia shrubs
Plant Lepechinia shrubs in an area that receives full sun. These shrubs prefer soil that is well-draining with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. Although these plants can tolerate some drought when established, they really do better with at least occasional waterings, especially during dry, hot times of the year. Water deeply but infrequently to encourage deep root growth and allow the top few inches of soil to dry out completely in between waterings. Apply mulch around the base of the plant to increase soil moisture retention. Although these shrubs don't normally require additional feedings if they are planted in rich, organic-material amended soil, if they are grown in poor soil they may benefit from a yearly feeding with a slow-release balanced fertilizer applied in springtime.
Most pruning activities should be completed in late wintertime or early springtime before the plant has had a chance to send out new growth. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches to maintain a compact, tidy shape. These shrubs can be pinched when they are young to encourage a bushier habit. Deadhead as needed to remove spent blooms and discourage reseeding, and lightly prune after flowering to encourage more foliar growth to occur.
Most pruning activities should be completed in late wintertime or early springtime before the plant has had a chance to send out new growth. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches to maintain a compact, tidy shape. These shrubs can be pinched when they are young to encourage a bushier habit. Deadhead as needed to remove spent blooms and discourage reseeding, and lightly prune after flowering to encourage more foliar growth to occur.
Propagation
Lepechinia can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Lepechinia by Cutting
Propagating Lepechinia by Seed
Propagating Lepechinia by Cutting
- Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
- In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
- Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
- Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.
Propagating Lepechinia by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have browned and dried, they will begin to release seeds on their own. Cut the flower heads off of the plant at this time, and place them in a paper bag while they continue to release their seeds. This process can be helped along a bit by shaking the bag to release more of the seeds. Empty the paper bag, and place the seeds in an airtight container until you are ready to use them.
- Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Problems and Pests
Lepechinia shrubs are generally pest and disease-free, but can suffer from a few issues if their roots are in standing water.
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All about Lepechinia shrubs.
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How to plant Lepechinia.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 405, Lepechinia
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