Salvia apiana (White Sage)

Photographs

My photos:

This field of White Sage was growing in Caspers Wilderness Park.

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More photos:

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Plant Information

Lamiaceae

In the garden:

Salvia apiana reaches about 6 feet in height. It is shrubby below with the current years growth being long, erect branches which have the flowers appearing at their tips. The foliage is white. It blooms from late spring to midsummer with white flowers, usually with blue/lavender. An excellent plant for an herb garden. It is good on slopes and in drought stricken areas, where it needs little summer water. Also, it makes a good border plant. It’s white or gray foliage makes a good contrast wit other plants.

In the wild:

Common on dry benches and slopes, mostly below 5000 feet.

Ethnobotany:

The seeds of white sage were used by native people as an eye cleanser and foreign object remover. When the seed is placed in the eye it becomes glutinous, picks up any foreign material, and is easily removed. The leaves were chewed or smoked as a decongestant. It was used in ceremonial fires. It was used for its pleasant scent to perfume the body and the living environment. Seeds, leaves and stalks were used for food.

"This is the one used in sweat lodges in the past and apartments in the present. Most of the stuff sold in the upscale trendy places was ripped out of the wild; whole hillsides stuffed into an old van and driven to San Francisco or Seattle or even New York so people can experience something. Well, the hillsides of southern California do not need the experience; go sniff old socks or something, experience what the hillsides are experiencing. If you do buy one of these burn sticks, may your soul go with the smoke. Curse on you. " (from Las Pilitas)

The Tongva (Gabrielinos) specifically consider white sage a "prayer plant." It has many strictly medicinal uses, but many of its uses are considered to be both medicinal and spiritual simultaneously. According to Tongva legend, white sage must be respected and venerated when found: "the one laying down are very old, we call it grandmothers and we are very respectful of them— when we find one we give thanks." [ref.]

Field Trips
Anza Borrego Caspers Holy Jim Canyon Idyllwild
Joshua Tree Mt Palomar Rancho Santa Ana Torrey Pines

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