Herb Of The Week - Sage - Salvia apiana

[Guest guest]

These folks sell White Sage (Salvia apiana) plants They don't have

the item listed on the web site, but I am sure if called they'd ship a

plant, or give a heads up on where to find it online or locally!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

 

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http://www.livingdesert.org/plants/white_sage.asp

 

Plant Fact Sheet

 

Lamiaceae

<http://www.livingdesert.org/images/plants/white_sage.jpg> White Sage

Salvia apiana

 

Salvia apiana, commonly known as White Sage or Sacred Sage, is a

California native that is found on the western edges of both the Mojave

and the Sonoran Deserts. White sage also extends south into northern

Baja, CA and north into the Santa Barbara County. Here in the Coachella

Valley and surrounding areas you will typically find White Sage growing

on dry rocky slopes at an elevation range of 3218ft to 5643ft. Salvia

vaseyi or Wand Sage is often mistaken for White Sage however a trained

eye can distinguish the two plants from one another. While the flower

clusters of Wand Sage form whorled and somewhat distinct flower clusters

around the flower stalk, the flower clusters of White Sage are typically

looser and less distinct sometimes forming a paired rather than circular

cluster. At The Living Desert, both plants can be found in our Sage

Garden and in our Upper Colorado Garden. In order to catch these sages

in bloom we suggest you visit the park early to mid April.

 

<http://www.livingdesert.org/images/plants/white_sage2.jpg> The

Cahuilla Indians who referred to White Sage as " qas'ily " had several

uses for this native plant: seeds were ground into a flour and used for

mush; leaves were used in cooking for flavoring; leaves were also eaten,

smoked or used in a sweathouse as a remedy for colds; seeds were dropped

into the eye and permitted to roll around under the eyelids in order to

cleanse the eyes; and leaves were crushed and mixed with water to create

a hair shampoo, dye and straightener. A few uses of " qas'ily " centered

on the Cahuilla women. Women would drink a sage root tea after child

birth to aid in the removal of the afterbirth and to help with internal

healing. In addition leaves of the White Sage were used to stop bad

luck, presumably for the male hunter, if a menstruating woman came into

contact with a male Cahuilla's hunting gear.

 

Today Salvia apiana is best known for its apparent ability to cleanse a

space of any evil spirits that may be present. This power is released

from the plant by the burning of the leaves, which are typically bundled

into a wand. These smudge wands are quite popular but if you purchase

one it is imperative that you ensure that the plant material was

collected legally and properly. Many natural stands of the White Sage

have been loss due to over-harvesting. Ideally, if you use smudge wands

regularly you should grow your own sage from which you can harvest stems

and leaves several times a year.

 

Salvia apiana plants are difficult to come by, but are fortunately a

stock plant at The Living Desert's Palo Verde Nursery. Once you purchase

the sage, plant it in the ground as soon as possible since these plants

have a short container life, typically one year. This sage may be a bit

tricky to establish in a low desert garden, but once established it

requires minimal maintenance. As a member of the Coastal Sage Scrub

community Salvia apiana is adapted to a winter rainfall regimen and dry

summers. In order to mimic these conditions White sage should actually

be watered less during the summer months, a weekly deep soaking.

Planting White Sage in the fall will allow enough time for the plant to

establish itself in the garden and tolerate this type of watering.

During the winter months White Sage will respond to a good soaking twice

a month. It is highly recommended to follow these suggestions because

over-watering White Sage in the summer can kill the plant. White Sage

can tolerate a full sun location, but in the low desert it would prefer

an area that provided shade from the afternoon sun. As a general rule

White Sage does not need to be pruned and needs a fast draining soil.