White sage

(Salvia apiana),

White sage is a common plant that requires well drained dry soil, full sun, and little water. They occur on dry slopes in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and yellow-pine forests of Southern California to Baja California at less than 1500 m elevation. Bumblebees, hawk moths and wasps pollinate the White sage, and hummingbirds also appear to like the plant. The white sage typically flowers between May and August.

White sage is also used medicinally. It can be made into a tea, which decreases sweating, salivation, and mucous secretions in the sinuses, throat, and lungs. Cold tea can be a good stomach tonic, while a lukewarm tea is good for treating sore throats. The leaves can also be used as a uterine hemostatic tea for heavy menstruation; however, since it can also decrease lactation, nursing mothers are advised not to use it.

White sage is considered sacred by many Native Americans since it is used to make smudge sticks, a type of incense. White sage is believed to cleanse a space of any evil spirits that may be present. This power is said to be released from the plant by the burning of the leaves, which are typically bundled into a wand or stick. Today many Native American tribes still use the stems and leaves for smudging as part of purification ceremonies.

White Sage can be a slow growing, difficult to establish plant that can take up to three years to reach a mature size. The plant above is a three year old pictured in spring. The body of the plant gets to be two to three feet tall and can spread eight feet or more. The flower wands will add  two to five feet to the height and will  have tiny insignificant looking white flowers that are dotted with lavender. At least they are insignificant to us, to the bees they are heaven, which it is why it is sometimes referred to as bee sage. White Sage has highly aromatic, waxy gray leaves that are used for incense.

Native to the Southwest, White Sage likes dry conditions, especially in the winter. Over winter whole stems may turn black and die if the ground becomes too saturated. If the condition is prolonged the whole plant may die. In its native Southwest it is hard to water too much in the summer. But, in other areas where summer humidity plays a part it may be impossible to grow successfully. Growing it in a large container may help with high levels of humidity.