Guest guest Posted August 27, 2004 Report Share Posted August 27, 2004 Hi Christine thankyou for the information on this herb, its one I use spiritually within my home all the time.. my question is though, does anyone know if this can be purchased here in Austalia? I know it can be bought dried, and there any many versions of sage.. but I havent found this type of sage here so far.. any idea?? many thank Rebekah 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 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 27, 2004 Report Share Posted August 27, 2004 Hi Rebekah, I don't know if/where the plant can be purchased in Australia, but I am sure you could get seeds, either there, or mailed to you from someone here I'd be happy to post some places to get seeds from if anyone is interested ... Have a great weekend folks! *Smile* Chris (list mom) http://www.alittleolfactory.com T J [tianajari3] Hi Christine thankyou for the information on this herb, its one I use spiritually within my home all the time.. my question is though, does anyone know if this can be purchased here in Austalia? I know it can be bought dried, and there any many versions of sage.. but I havent found this type of sage here so far.. any idea?? many thank Rebekah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2004 Report Share Posted August 30, 2004 Hi Rebekah > my question is though, does anyone know if this can be > purchased here in Austalia? There's a nursery (relatively) near us and they have just about every herb you could name. They have a mail order service and you can find them at < http://www.herbsalive.com.au/> I had a quick look and couldn't find that specific one but lots of other sages - but John would let you know if he can get it for you or if he has it in stock if you drop him an email. They're very helpful people and if anyone can get it, he can:-) Vicki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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