Salvia dorrii aka Purple Sage

Salvia dorrii is a small shrub in the mint family. People call it desert sage or purple sage. It grows wild in the western United States. Its range spans Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. It grows on dry slopes, flats, and foothills. Wild plants grow in sand, rocky soil, and limestone soil. They grow among sagebrush and chaparral. They also grow among pinyon-juniper and cool desert shrubs.

This bushy plant has a low, round shape. The RHS gives garden heights of 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. It lists the same range for the plant's spread. Plants reach full size in two to five years. The leaves are narrow and shaped like a lance. They have a scent and a grey-green colour. Plants may keep all or some leaves year-round. Small purple flowers form groups along short spikes in summer. Cut back spent spikes to help blooms last longer.

Full sun gives the plant the best place to grow. It can also cope with some shade. The RHS advises soil that drains well, with a fair level of nutrients. Chalk, loam, and sand suit it. Soil can range from acid to alkaline. Though it grows wild in dry places, moist soil suits garden plants. The soil must drain well. Plants need less water once they have settled in. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H5. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 5–9. To grow new plants, take cuttings in summer. Use shoots that have grown firm but are not fully hard.

Its small size suits beds, borders, courtyards, and pots. It also fits rock gardens and dry native plantings. Plants For A Future suggests it for low hedges. It keeps its round shape with no need to prune. That source also notes its use to restore harsh, rocky rangeland. The flowers provide nectar and pollen. The RHS reports few pests, but some diseases can strike. These include powdery mildew and verticillium wilt. Root rot and foot rot can occur too. Honey fungus poses a less frequent risk.

Plants For A Future lists leaves, flowers, and seeds as edible. Leaves and flowers give tea or food a strong, earthy taste. Grind cooked seeds to thicken soup. You can also mix their flour into bread flour. The source lists no known hazards. This does not prove the plant is safe for everyone. It records use in folk medicine for colds and other complaints. These reports do not prove that such treatments work.