How to Grow and Use White Sage

I find much of my garden design inspiration in the natural beauty of the chaparral ecosystem that once flourished in my area.

By planting native species like white sage, I am doing my part to support the regeneration of the local ecosystem.

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This highly scented Salvia is a woody perennial from the mint family that thrives alongside other drought-tolerant native shrubs most commonly found within chaparral and coastal sage scrub plant communities.

Experiencing how these plants work together in arid climates to create a harmonious and sustainable environment is impressive.

Unfortunately, the new age market has increased demand for white sage, resulting in the exploitation of wild stands that are poached for profit.

To ensure access to this herb for Indigenous cultural use and to address its habitat loss, supporting its protection in the wild and its regeneration is crucial.

What better way to support this at-risk native plant than by growing it in our gardens, and sharing resources to help and inspire others to cultivate Salvia apiana?

In this guide, we’ll cover white sage’s background, its current conservation status, and how to grow your own.

Southern California is home to several Salviaspecies, but the stunning one with easy to distinguish, silvery, smooth foliage is known as white sage.

During late spring to early summer, the plant sends up tall flower stalks that are covered with tiny white flowers.

Sometimes the petals have purple dots, giving the blooms a light lavender appearance. By early fall, the flower heads die back and develop seeds.

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