Salvia L.: sage

Abstract

The sage genus - Salvia contains about 700 species of annual and perennial herbs and shrubs and is worldwide in distribution. There are perhaps 20 woody species in the United States, principally in the Southwest and California (table 1) (Correll and Johnson 1970; Munz and Keck 1959). They are intricately branched, rounded or sprawling shrubs or subshrubs with often leathery, opposite, leaves. The foliage is usually strongly aromatic. Members of the sage genus are used medicinally and as culinary herbs; many of the native species have been locally adopted for these uses. Native sages are often fast-growing and freely reseed themselves onto disturbed lands (Keeley and Keeley 1984). They could be useful in the stabilization of disturbed land. Several California species are dominant components of coastal sage scrub communities and are also significant in chaparral. They also head the list of wild California bee plants for honey production (Jepson 1951). In addition, sages are showy in flower and have interesting foliage, giving them great potential as ornamentals for low-water-use landscaping (ANPS 1990). Most are native to warm winter areas, but Dorr sage occurs throughout the Great Basin and is quite cold hardy.

Parent Publication

• The Woody Plant Seed Manual

Citation

Meyer, Susan E. 2008. Salvia L.: sage. In: Bonner, Franklin T.; Karrfalt, Robert P., eds. The Woody Plant Seed Manual. Agric. Handbook No. 727. Washington, DC. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. p. 1010-1013.