Common Name: Blackcurrant Sage

General Information

Salvia microphylla is a densely-branched, evergreen perennial plant, more or less woody at the base, growing about 120cm tall[].
The plant is often grown in herb gardens, where it is used as a flavouring and febrifuge. It is cultivated locally for its medicinal uses in central Mexico, and also grown as an ornamental near farm houses, in fields and cemeteries[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America to southern N. America - Guatemala, through Mexico to Arizona and New Mexico

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Salvia microphylla is a plant usually of higher elevations in the tropics, occasionally descending as low as 1,200 metres. This species is rather variable with a number of sub-species and cultivars of differing hardiness[, ]. The hardiest forms tolerate temperatures down to about -10°c[]. When grown outdoors in temperate areas, the top growth is likely to be cut back to the ground in cold winters but, if the roots are given a good mulch in the autumn, plants will often survive the winter outdoors and resprout freely from the base in the spring[].
Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a warm 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

The leaves have a pleasant scent of blackcurrant and can be used fresh or dried as a flavouring.
A herbal tea, called 'mirot de montes', is made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the flowers and leaves have been used in the treatment of fevers[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are very attractive to bees, providing a good source of nectar[].

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[].