Practical
Plants

Salvia apiana

White Sage

a perennial member of the Salvia genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Salvia
Life cycle
perennial
Height
3 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used as a mush[3][7]. The seed has been mixed with cereals such as oats or wheat, toasted then ground into a fine powder and eaten dry[7]. The seed can also be soaked overnight and used as a drink in water or fruit juice or eaten with cereals[9][4]. The seed is also used as a spice[2]. The leaves are used in cooking[4]. They can be used as a flavouring in seed mushes[7]. Stem tops[2][3]. The young stalks can be eaten raw[7]. Ripe stem tops can be peeled and eaten raw[7].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the leaves is used as a blood tonic and as a treatment for coughs and colds[7]. The leaves can be eaten, or used as a sweat bath, in the treatment of colds[7]. The seeds have been used as eye cleaners[7]. No more information is given here, but in other instances the seed has been placed in the eye, it then forms a gelatinous covering to which any foreign matter in the eye adheres. The seed is washed out of the eye by the eyes own tears[K].

Product or use
Blood tonic
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves have been crushed in water and used as a hair shampoo, dye and hair straightener[7]. A poultice of the freshly crushed leaves can be applied to the armpits to treat body odours[7]. The leaves have been burnt as an incense to fumigate a house after a case of contagious disease such as measles[7].

Product or use
Hair care
Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - California.
Habitat
Dry benches and slopes below 1500 metres[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[5]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood succeed at almost any time in the growing season[5].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[5]. Prefers a rich soil[1]. Plants grow best in a dry climate and can be killed by excessive winter wet[5][8]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. The seed is sold in health food shops for its use in making a drink[4]. A good bee plant[9]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  7. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  9. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  10. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

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