Plant of the Week September 23, 2006 Salvias are classified into the mint family, Labiateae, which contains over 750 species of herbs and sub-shrubs from quasi-arid climates around the world. The “Santa Barbara” species of Salvia leucantha is a frost tender native from most of Mexico and was first classified at the University of Madrid by Antonio Jose Cavanilles (1745-1804). This cultivar, considered to be an improvement on the species, was discovered by Kathiann Brown, a gardener from Santa Barbara, California. It was named KAB in her honor... Read More →