Common Name: Wrinkle-Leaved Sage

General Information

Salvia lanigera is a herbaceous perennial plant usually growing 20 - 35cm tall, but sometimes taller.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a tea. It is sometimes grown as an annual, especially in semi-arid regions.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern and eastern Mediterranean - Morocco to Egypt and the Levant, extending east through Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran

Habitat

Shrub-steppes in Israel.

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia lanigera is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°c when fully dormant, so long as the soil is well-drained[].
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a rich soil[]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[].
The leaves are fragrant.
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

The plant serves as a condiment for tea[, ].

Medicinal

An aromatic tea made from the plant is used to treat a variety of abdominal troubles[].

The main medicinal properties are due to the plant's essential oils[].
The plant has been shown to have cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity[].

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[].