Thistle Sage
Salvia carduacea
Thistle Sage (Salvia carduacea) is a native annual herb in the Lamiaceae (Mint) family that grows in southern and central California, primarily in hot, dry inland areas.
It tends to grow in sandy or gravelly places, at elevations from 0-4500 feet.
It has a distinctive thistle appearance but is not related to true thistles. It is more closely related to Chia (S. columbariae).
It is almost always grown from seed and is sometimes included in desert seed mixes.
Calscape
https://calscape.org/loc-California/Salvia%20carduacea%20(Thistle%20Sage)