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Salvia mellifera - Greene.

Common Name Californian Black Sage
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 7-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Found in coastal sage scrub and chaparral plant communities[276].
Range South-western N. America - California.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia mellifera Californian Black Sage


J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Salvia mellifera Californian Black Sage
J.S. Peterson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Salvia mellifera is an evergreen Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
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

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

The aromatic leaves can be brewed into a tea[183]. The leaves and stems can be used as a food flavouring[183, 257]. The seeds can be dried then ground into a powder and used as a gruel[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.
Analgesic  Cardiac  Carminative  Pectoral

The green leaves are cardiac and carminative[257]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of heart complaints[257]. They can be chewed in the treatment of gas pains[257]. A poultice of the heated leaves can be applied to the ear in the treatment of ear pains, or to the neck in the treatment of sore throats[257]. A decoction of the plant has been used in the treatment of chronic bronchial coughs[257]. The decoction has also been used as a bath in the treatment of paralysis[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

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]. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering[11]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[200]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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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).

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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 :

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Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Cistus salviifoliusRock Rose, Salvia cistus, Sage Leaf Rock RoseShrub0.6 8-11 FLMNDM103
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Salvia ballotaeflora Annual0.0 -  LMNDM10 
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Salvia clevelandiiBlue Sage, Fragrant sage, Chaparral SageShrub0.6 8-11 MLMNDM10 
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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 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
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Salvia pratensisMeadow Clary, Introduced sagePerennial1.0 3-7  LMNDM100
Salvia reflexaMintweed, Lanceleaf sageAnnual0.8 0-0  LMNDM100
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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

Greene.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

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