Common Name: Purple Sage

General Information

Salvia carnosa is a much-branched, erect to ascending, evergreen shrub that can grow from 20 - 80cm tall and 20 - 150cm wide[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental, where it can be used to make a low hedge[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

South-western N. America - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona,

Habitat

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[, ]

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia carnosa is found wild in areas where the mean annual preciritation ranges from 180 - 380mm[]. It is moderately cold-hardy, being able to tolerate short periods with temperatures down to around -15°c[].
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a rich soil[]. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering[]. Established plants are tolerant of drought[].
Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[].
The plant is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits[, ].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked. Ground into a powder and used to thicken soups etc or added to cereal flours when making bread etc[].

Medicinal

A decoction of the seeds and stems is used to treat colds[].

A decoction or infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of fevers, coughs, colds and stomach aches[].
A decoction of the leaves and stems can be drunk, used as a wash or as a steam bath in the treatment of headaches[].
A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied tot he chest to treat congestion[].

A decoction of the flowering stems has been used as a poultice and a wash to treat swollen leg veins[].

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 patients face[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a good source of nectar and pollen[].
The plant can be used to make a low hedge. It will maintain its rounded shape without pruning[].
This plant can be used for revegetation and diversification of rangeland, particularly in harsh, rocky sites[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse[]. 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[].