I can't tell is this is even a Salvia without a closeup of the flower head. If it looks like this in bloom, it is probably Leucophyllum frutescens

Leucophyllum frutescens in bloom

Both possible identities given point towards the fact that many desert and mesquite species have evolved to defoliate up to the growing tips. They also tend to have gray foliage with similar habits, causing them to look alike from a distance. This is why there is a need for a close up image,

It's brittlebush (Encelia farinosa). Family Asteraceae (i.e., sunflowers, not sages). Lots of yellow flower heads during spring.

I should add that this is a native, not an invasive or a "weed." It's abundant in inland so. Calif. and on desert slopes. In some places it has been intentionally planted along roads and highways. I wish I could grow it in Anza. We're too high.

Further comment. If you look closely, you'll see that the leaves are alternate, not opposite. Salvia leaves are paired on each side of the stem. These alternate on each side of the stem. Of course, the flower structures are totally different, but that may not be so apparent when looking at them in fall and winter. When I first "got into" California salvias, I went through the same thing. I stopped and looked at a lot of brittlebush before I learned to tell them apart. Encelia farinosa looks -- at a glance -- even more like S. vaseyi than it does S. apiana. There's a place on Hwy 74, heading down to Palm Desert, where S. vaseyi and E. farinosa occur together. Without taking a close look, it's easy to be confused.

thank you for all that info

We were wanting to spread this around our property. The first one we tried moving isn't looking good. Do these not like to be transplanted?

I don't know. I tried growing them from cuttings, without success, but I'm sure it can be done. Las Pilitas sells it, at times, and I'm sure they do it from cuttings. We moved from Temecula (where E. farinosa grows naturally) to Anza (too many subfreezing nights) before I was able to work any more with it. Keep in mind that nothing that is transplanted right now is going to "grow," as the term is generally understood, until spring. You hope for survival, not growth.

the one we transplanted just drooped and seemed to die. we thought since these were growing all over the property, even out of rock, we could spread them around.....