Purple Sage
Salvia leucophylla
ABOUT
Purple sage is one of my favorite plants around SCV - in peak bloom, it is a sight to behold. Layers of brilliant purple flowers splayed out in a perfect organized pattern, separated into sections like balconies on a building, the size tapering off as the branches of the plant end.
Being a sage, it is also very aromatic.
More info on yerba santa can be found on the US Forest website as well as WebMD and Wikipedia.
Close-up of yerba santa leaves (both young and mature) with their fuzzy texture.