We need help! In recent months our income dropped considerably and we need more donations from our users to avoid getting into financial difficulty. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Salvia dorrii - (Kellogg) Abrams

Common Name Purple Sage
Family Lamiaceae
USDA hardiness 5-9
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Sandy, rocky or limestone soil on dry open slopes, on flats or foothills, often associated with pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, chaparral, and cool desert shrub habitats, at elevations from 300 - 3,050 metres[71, 277 ]
Range South-western N. America - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia dorrii Purple Sage


edibleplants.org
Salvia dorrii Purple Sage
Stan Shebs. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Purple Sage or Desert Sage (Salvia dorrii) strong, earthy-flavoured leaves and flowers can be used in teas and seasoning. It is ideal for xeriscaping, rock gardens, and native plant gardens. Its aromatic foliage is often used in traditional medicine and for smudging.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Salvia dorrii is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Audibertia dorrii Kellogg. Audibertiella dorrii (Kellogg) Briq. Ramona dorrii (Kellogg) Briq.

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

Strong, earthy-flavoured leaves and flowers can be used in teas and seasoning. Seed—cooked. Ground into a powder and used to thicken soups, etc., or added to cereal flours when making bread, etc. [105 ].

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.


A decoction of the seeds and stems is used to treat colds[61 ]. A decoction or infusion of the leaves has been used to treat fevers, coughs, colds, and stomach aches[257 ]. A decoction of the leaves and stems can be drunk and used as a wash or steam bath to treat headaches[257 ]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to the chest to treat congestion[257 ]. A decoction of the flowering stems has been used as a poultice and a wash to treat swollen leg veins[257 ]. The plant is much valued as a treatment for an epileptic or faint person, either administered as a drink or prepared like tobacco and the smoke blown into the patient's face[216 , 257 ].

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

Agroforestry Uses: The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen[277 ]. The plant can be used to make a low hedge. It will maintain its rounded shape without pruning[277 ]. This plant can be used for revegetation and diversification of rangeland, particularly in harsh, rocky sites[277 ]. Nectary - Flowers rich in nectar and pollen: Salvia species are excellent for pollinators. The flowers are rich in nectar, attracting bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Wildlife - Food (Fruit, Seeds, Leaf litter, Shelter, Nesting, Roosting): Although the seeds and fruits are not significant food sources, the dense foliage can provide some shelter for wildlife, and it can serve as ground cover for small animals or invertebrates. Invertebrate Shelter (Overwintering sites, Leaf litter, Groundcover): Sage plants provide ground cover and their woody stems and dense leaf litter can offer overwintering sites and protection for beneficial insects. Pest Confuser (Smell): Sage has a strong, aromatic smell that can repel pests like insects and herbivores. It is often planted as a companion plant to deter harmful pests.

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Soil Texture: Thrives in light (sandy) and gravelly or rocky soils. It prefers nutrient-poor, well-drained soils typical of arid and semi-arid regions. Soil Moisture: Prefers dry soils. It is highly drought-tolerant and does not tolerate overly moist or waterlogged conditions. Drainage: It requires excellent drainage, as it is adapted to arid environments with minimal water retention. Soil pH: Grows best in neutral to alkaline soils (pH 7.0–8.5). Does not thrive in highly acidic soils. Saline Tolerance: Low tolerance for saline soils, but it can survive in moderately saline conditions if drainage is good. Tolerance of Poor Soil: It thrives in poor, nutrient-deficient soils, particularly in desert and chaparral ecosystems. Light Requirements: Requires full sun for optimal growth and flowering. It is not suited for shaded areas. Height: Typically grows to about 30–90 cm (1–3 feet) tall, with a similar spread. Pollination: bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds attracted to its vibrant purple to violet flowers. Temperature: Hardy in USDA zones 5–9. It tolerates high heat and cold, making it well-suited for arid and semi-arid climates. Drought Tolerance: Extremely drought-tolerant once established, making it ideal for xeriscaping and low-water landscapes. Flowering: Produces clusters of showy purple to violet flowers in late spring to early summer. The flowers emerge from aromatic grey-green foliage. Wildlife: Attracts pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Birds may also eat its seeds. Pests and Diseases: Generally pest-free and resistant to most diseases. Overwatering can lead to root rot or fungal issues. Pruning: Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape and encourage new growth. Avoid heavy pruning into woody stems. Salvia dorrii is found wild in areas where the mean annual precipitation ranges from 180 - 380mm[277 ]. It is moderately cold-hardy, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -15°c[200 ]. Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[200 ]. Prefers a rich soil[1 ]. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering[11 ]. Established plants are tolerant of drought[277 ]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[200 ]. The plant is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits[233 , 277 ]. The native range of this species is W. U.S.A. It is a subshrub or shrub and grows primarily in the temperate biome [2-5].

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 early to mid-spring in a greenhouse[200 ]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants 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

Purple Sage or Desert Sage. Dorr's sage, Fleshy sage, Mint sage, Tobacco sage.

Native Range

Native to: Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington USA

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.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not Available

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cistus salviifoliusRock Rose, Salvia cistus, Sage Leaf Rock RoseShrub0.6 8-11 FLMNDM103
Salvia apianaWhite Sage, Compact white sagePerennial3.0 7-10  LMNDM312
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
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

(Kellogg) Abrams

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

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 admin@pfaf.org. 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 dorrii  
© 2010-2025, 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.