Common Name:

General Information

Salvia repens is a perennial plant, producing a few to several, simple or branched, stems from a creeping rhizome; it grows around 25 - 50cm tall, occasionally to 80cm[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is grown as an oramental, where it is sometimes used medicinally, and can be used to form a ground cover[]

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern Africa - S. Africa

Habitat

Grasslands in the highveld[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia repens is widespread throughout the summer rainfall, eastern part of South Africa[]. The plant is somewhat tolerant of frost[],
An easy and fast-growing when given good conditions, the plant requires full sun and good drainage. It will survive with little water but responds with lush growth to regular water especially in summer, and well-composted soil[].
As with many fast-growing herbs, plants get untidy after 2-3 years and need to be pruned back hard or lifted and replanted[]

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Traditionally the leaves have been added to the bath for treating sores[]

A decoction of the root has been used for both humans and cattle for treating stomach ache and diarrhoea[].

Agroforestry Uses:

With its bright green foliage and spikes of white flowers in summer, this plant forms a lovely groundcover on the edge of paths and beds[]

Other Uses

Smoke from burning the plant can be used as a fumigant[].

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[].