Common Name:

General Information

Salvia cana is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a thick, woody rootstock; it produces several erect, usually unbranched stems around 20 - 30cm tall.[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Himalayas of Pakistan, northwest India and Nepal.

Habitat

Open slopes in drier areas; at elevations from 1,500 - 3,000 metres[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Salvia cana 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[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

Stems are peeled and eaten[, ].

Medicinal

This species is often confused with Salix moorcroftiana when used medicinally. It has the same applications and may be used separately, or as an adulterant[].

The roots are used in the treatment of colds and coughs[].

The seed is emetic[]. It is used in the treatment of dysentery, haemorrhoids, colic and, externally, boils[].

A poultice of the leaves is used as a dressing for wounds and is also applied to itchy skin[].

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[].