Salvia apiana aka White Sage

Salvia apiana is an evergreen shrub in the mint family. People call it white sage or California white sage. It comes from southern California and Baja California in Mexico. It grows there on dry slopes and benches, or flat ledges. Its home range has a subtropical climate. Gardeners grow it for its pale leaves and small flowers.

Sources differ on its size and shape. RHS lists a compact plant, 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall and wide. Virginia Tech gives a height of 5 feet [1.5 metres]. It describes a loose shrub with a round shape. Its curved branches can root where they touch the soil. The bark is gray-brown. Young stems range from reddish brown to gray-brown, with pale hairs. The narrow leaves grow in pairs, each across from the other. They stay on the plant all year. Woolly hairs coat both sides and give them a gray-green tint. The leaves have a strong scent.

Small, lipped flowers range from white to pale purple or pink. RHS gives late spring as the bloom time. Virginia Tech reports bloom in summer. Flowers form rings, called whorls, along thin spikes. Long stamens and pistils reach out past each flower. Small, shiny nutlets then form within husks. PFAF says the plant draws wildlife and helpful insects. Its pale leaves suit borders and wildlife gardens. They also suit Mediterranean-style gardens. RHS suggests pots, patios, and courtyard gardens too.

Give white sage full sun and soil that drains well. It can take some shade. RHS suggests loam with a fair level of nutrients. The soil can be acid, neutral, or alkaline. The plant needs less water once its roots take hold. RHS rates it H3, for mild or coastal British sites. PFAF gives USDA zones 7–10. These ratings use different scales; do not treat them as equal. Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer to grow more plants. Cut off dead flower spikes to help bloom last longer. RHS reports few pest problems. Diseases may include powdery mildew and verticillium wilt. Root or foot rots may occur too. Honey fungus is rare.

PFAF lists seeds, leaves, and stems as edible parts. People eat the seeds raw or cooked, or grind them into meal. They also soak seeds for use in drinks or cereals. People use leaves to season food and eat young stalks raw. PFAF reports no known hazards. This does not show that the plant is safe for pets. PFAF also notes past uses for colds, coughs, and eye cleaning. These records do not prove that such treatments work. Other uses on record include incense and hair washes.