We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Salvia apiana - Jeps.

Common Name White Sage, Compact white sage
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry benches and slopes below 1500 metres[71].
Range South-western N. America - California.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia apiana White Sage, Compact white sage


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Salvia apiana White Sage, Compact white sage
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Salvia apiana is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from April to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed  Stem
Edible Uses: Condiment  Drink

Seed - raw or cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used as a mush[177, 257]. The seed has been mixed with cereals such as oats or wheat, toasted then ground into a fine powder and eaten dry[257]. The seed can also be soaked overnight and used as a drink in water or fruit juice or eaten with cereals[61, 183]. The seed is also used as a spice[105]. The leaves are used in cooking[183]. They can be used as a flavouring in seed mushes[257]. Stem tops[105, 177]. The young stalks can be eaten raw[257]. Ripe stem tops can be peeled and eaten raw[257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Blood tonic  Ophthalmic

An infusion of the leaves is used as a blood tonic and as a treatment for coughs and colds[257]. The leaves can be eaten, or used as a sweat bath, in the treatment of colds[257]. The seeds have been used as eye cleaners[257]. 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].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Hair  Incense

The leaves have been crushed in water and used as a hair shampoo, dye and hair straightener[257]. A poultice of the freshly crushed leaves can be applied to the armpits to treat body odours[257]. The leaves have been burnt as an incense to fumigate a house after a case of contagious disease such as measles[257].

Special Uses

Attracts Wildlife

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[200]. Prefers a rich soil[1]. Plants grow best in a dry climate and can be killed by excessive winter wet[200, 260]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. The seed is sold in health food shops for its use in making a drink[183]. A good bee plant[61]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[200]. 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[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (California (south)), Mexico (Baja California (Norte))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cistus salviifoliusRock Rose, Salvia cistus, Sage Leaf Rock RoseShrub0.6 8-11 FLMNDM103
Salvia ballotaeflora Annual0.0 -  LMNDM10 
Salvia carduaceaThistle SageAnnual/Perennial0.7 7-10  LMNDM20 
Salvia carnosaPurple SageShrub0.8 6-9  LMNDM12 
Salvia clevelandiiBlue Sage, Fragrant sage, Chaparral SageShrub0.6 8-11 MLMNDM10 
Salvia columbariaeChia, Ziegler's sageAnnual/Perennial0.7 6-9  LMNDM32 
Salvia dorisianaSage Fruity PineapplePerennial1.3 9-12 FLMHSNM303
Salvia elegansPineapple Sage, Pineapple-scented Sage,Perennial1.0 8-11 MLMNDM312
Salvia fruticosaGreek Sage, Greek oreganoShrub1.0 8-11  LMNDM232
Salvia glabrescens Perennial0.3 -  LMSNDM10 
Salvia glutinosaJupiter's Distaff, Sticky SagePerennial1.2 4-8  LMSNDM103
Salvia hispanicaMexican Chia, ChiaAnnual1.0 8-11  LMNDM30 
Salvia japonica Perennial0.8 7-10  LMSNDM102
Salvia lanata Perennial0.3 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia lanigeraWrinkle-Leaved SageShrub0.0 -  LMNDM10 
Salvia lavandulifoliaSpanish SageShrub0.3 4-8  LMNDM232
Salvia leucanthaMexican Bush SageShrub1.2 8-10 FLMHNM013
Salvia lyrataCancer Weed, Lyreleaf SagePerennial0.6 4-9 MLMNDM020
Salvia melliferaCalifornian Black SageShrub2.0 7-10  LMNDM12 
Salvia microphyllaBlackcurrant SagePerennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia moorcroftiana Perennial0.9 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia multicaulis Shrub0.3 7-10  LMNDM10 
Salvia multiorrhizaDan ShenPerennial0.6 5-9  LMNDM03 
Salvia officinalisSage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden SageShrub0.6 5-10 MLMNDM455
Salvia plebeia Biennial0.5 -  LMNMWe11 
Salvia pomiferaApple SageShrub1.0 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia pratensisMeadow Clary, Introduced sagePerennial1.0 3-7  LMNDM100
Salvia reflexaMintweed, Lanceleaf sageAnnual0.8 0-0  LMNDM100
Salvia sclareaClary, Europe sage, Clary SageBiennial/Perennial1.0 5-9 MLMHNDM223
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Jeps.

Botanical References

71200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

RONI   Mon Nov 28 2005

THIS IS A GOOD WEB SITE AND IT GAVE ME ALOT OF INFO ON WHITE SAGE FOR MY PROGECT. THX

Victor Hartford   Thu Mar 23 2006

White Sage seeds & plants organic Salvia apiana Seed source, cultivation, uses

Marc   Fri Sep 14 2007

Sorry to be rude, but "sow March/April in a greenhouse[200]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks." isn't very useful information. The USDA suggests heating to 150 F for twn minutes, some sites suggest "liquid smoke", others gibberellic acid. A number of places suggest light is necessary for germination. So it would very much help if you would be specific as to germination temperatures, sowing depth, what specific growing medium is best and what stratification techniques are necessary. Thanks

salvio   Fri Sep 12 2008

To Marc: sprouting is very easy. Just bury 1/2 to 1 inch (2-3cm) in sandy soil and water until a good size (2-5 pars of leaves grown) and transplant to bigger pot or ground.

david n   Wed May 27 2009

The leaves taste rather like Sage (Salvia officinalis) but more intense, they are probably too tough to use without being chopped up unless you sont mind chewing. It looks good, almost white leaves.

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Salvia apiana  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.