Common Name: Blue Sage

General Information

Salvia clevelandii is a rounded, evergreen shrub that can grow up to 60cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often grown as an ornamental.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

South-western N. America - California, northwest Mexico (Baja California, Sonora)

Habitat

Sunny positions in chapparal plant communities; at elevations up to 900 metres[, ].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia clevelandii is not hardy in the colder areas of the temperate zone, it tolerates short periods with temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[].
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[].
The aromatic leaves have a scent reminiscent of rose pot-pourri[].
There is at least one named variety. 'Aromas' is an improved selection that is very fragrant[].
Plants tend to be short-lived, being replaced every 5 - 10 years in cultivation[].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[].

Edible Uses

The leaves have a pleasant flavour and fragrance, they are a good substitute for sage in cooking[, ],

Medicinal

None known

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[], though spring is best[].