Salvia hispanica aka Chia

Salvia hispanica, known as chia or Mexican chia, belongs to the mint family. It grows as an annual and produces edible seeds. PFAF places its native range in central Mexico. Useful Tropical Plants gives a broader range through Central America to Colombia and Ecuador. The Aztecs grew chia as food before the Spanish arrived. Farmers still grow it for seed in Mexico and Guatemala.

The plant stands upright and reaches about 3.3 feet [1 metre]. Its stout stem may stay single or form few branches. It grows at a moderate rate, according to PFAF. Wild plants occur in both damp and dry thickets. They also grow on rocky slopes, in fields, and beside streams. Some grow in open oak woods or on disturbed ground. These records span elevations of about 3,770–8,200 feet [1,150–2,500 metres].

PFAF gives July to August as the flowering period. Each flower has both male and female organs. The plant is self-fertile, and bees visit its flowers. Its seeds are nutlets, a precise term for these small fruits. Water makes their outer coat swell into a thick gel. This trait gives chia many of its food uses. The flowers also give bees a reason to visit garden beds.

Grow chia in a warm spot with direct sun. It needs fertile soil that drains well. Sandy soil and loam both suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. PFAF lists both dry and moist soil as suitable. The plant cannot grow in shade and is frost tender. PFAF lists USDA zones 8–11, but British gardeners can grow it as a summer annual. Sow under glass in March or April. Seeds usually sprout within two weeks. Plant seedlings outside in late spring or early summer. Outdoor sowing in April or May may fail to yield ripe seed in cool summers.

Soaked seeds can make drinks, gruel, or puddings. Sprouts can go into salads, sandwiches, soups, and stews. Ground seed can join cereal flour in bread, cakes, and biscuits. The seeds provide protein, fats, fibre, and omega-3 fatty acids. They also yield oil. Both sources report no known hazards, though this does not establish pet safety. Useful Tropical Plants notes local medicinal uses without details. PFAF lists none. Useful Tropical Plants also records chia as a weed on disturbed land. Check plant identity: both sources warn of confusion with Salvia lavandulifolia.