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| ## White Sage {#white-sage .Title-Header}                             |
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| *Salvia apiana* Jepson                                                |
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| Plant Symbol = SAAP2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center & Rancho Santa Ana
Botanic Garden

### 

###### Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: White sage seeds were one component in pinole, which was
a staple food of the Indians of the Pacific coast (Barrows 1977). Seeds
were collected with a seed beater basket and flat basket, and were
parched and ground into meal. The Cahuillas of southern California used
this meal to create a mix with one part meal, three parts wheat flour,
and a little sugar. This mixture was eaten dry, mixed with water to form
gruel, or baked into little cakes or biscuits. The seeds were harvested
in quantity and stored in baskets in the home. The tribes, north of
Santa Barbara, kept small baskets of seeds and other foodstuffs on hand,
with some stored for the winter. The Chumash and other California tribes
also ate leaves and stems of white sage.

The Cahuilla, Costanoan, Diegeño, Kawaiisu, and Maidu tribes of
California used white sage or chia seeds to clean and heal their eyes
(Strike 1994). One method was to place a few *Salvia* seeds in their
eyes at bedtime. During the night, the seeds would swell and become
gelatinous. Moving around under the eyelids during sleep, the seeds
collected any foreign substances on the eyeballs. In the morning the
seeds were removed, leaving the eyes clear and free of contaminants.
Cahuilla women drank an infusion of white sage roots after giving birth
to remove the afterbirth and promote internal healing. White sage seeds
were eaten by the Cahuilla to cure colds. The Diegueño used white sage
tea for this purpose. Leaves of white sage were smoked, made into a tea,
and used in sweathouses to cure colds. White sage leaves were also used
by the Diegueño as a shampoo to clean their hair and to keep it from
turning gray. Crushed leaves were rubbed on the body to eliminate body
odor; this was often done by Cahuilla men before they went hunting. The
smoke from burning white sage is used widely by many Native groups as
part of their purification ceremonies. White sage is widely valued and
cherished among many Indians and other cultures today, prized for its
soft \"feminine\" qualities (Stevens, unpublished field notes, 1998).

Today the leaves and stems of *Salvia apiana* are gathered, dried, and
used for smudging by many tribes around the country. The Chumash and
other California Indian people are concerned about over-harvesting and
disrespect of this plant for commercial purposes.

Sage tea will decrease sweating, salivation, milk secretions, and mucous
secretions of the sinuses, throat, and lungs (Moore 1979). It is the
best herbal treatment for decreasing lactation during weaning in either
animals or humans. A cold cup of the tea is a good stomach tonic. The
lukewarm tea is sufficiently bacteriostatic and astringent to make it
useful for treating nearly all sore throats, first gargled and then
drunk. The crushed leaves are made into a reliable uterine hemostatic
tea, good for heavy menstruation but inadvisable for the new mother who
plans to nurse.

*Wildlife*: White sage is an important browse plant for deer, antelope,
elk, mountain sheep, and rabbits. The flowers attract hummingbirds,
butterflies, bees, and other insects. Small mammals, sparrows, grouse,
and quail eat the seeds. *Salvia apiana* is a beautiful low maintenance
ornamental plant.

###### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

###### Description

*General*: Mint Family (Lamiaceae). White sage is a perennial sub-shrub
less than 1 m tall. Leaves are generally 4-8 cm long, lanceolate, with a
tapered base and minute teeth. The leaves are simple, with dense hairs
and a distinctive fragrance. The inflorescence is many-flowered raceme
with white to pale lavender blossoms. The fruits are light brown, shiny
nutlets.

###### Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site. White sage generally occurs at
elevations below 1500 m. It is common on dry slopes in coastal-sage
scrub, chaparral, and yellow pine forests. It occurs in the South Coast,
Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and the western edge of the Desert
Province. *Salvia apiana* extends south from southern California to Baja
California.

###### Establishment

*Salvia apiana* requires well-drained, fairly dry soils and full sun.
Excessive watering of white sage, especially during summer months, is
likely to kill the plant. White sage is particularly good for
stabilizing or restoring disturbed or degraded areas. Bart O'Brien,
Director of Horticulture, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Rick
Hepting, Theatrum Botanicum, provided the following horticultural
information:

*Seeds*: *Salvia apiana* propagates more easily from seed than from
cuttings. Plant seeds in flats in an appropriate planting soil. Seeds
may respond to light, so plant seeds at the soil surface or plant 1/8\"
to 1/4\" in a well-drained soil mix. Immediately after planting, soak
flats thoroughly, and then water sparingly as needed. Seeds germinate in
2-3 weeks at 20 to 30° C (68 to 86° F). Plant the seedlings into 2\" or
4\" pots after they grow 2-4 leaves beyond the cotyledons. Water as
needed, but do not overwater. *Salvia apiana* plants grow rapidly; they
are usually ready to outplant in 6 months to a year. It is best to
outplant in the fall; don\'t plant in the summer.

## 

*Cuttings*: Gather soft wood cuttings of young vegetative shoots before
the plant has flowered. The rooting ability of these cuttings is
enhanced by collection and preparation in the spring. Collect cuttings
3-4 inches long, and remove the lowest pair of leaves. Dipping the basal
1-2 inch portion of the cutting in rooting hormones enhances rooting.
Bury the cuttings so that the lowest node is ½ inch under ground. Plants
will root quickly if they are going to survive. If the cutting material
is too hard, rooting may take a long time, or cuttings won\'t ever root.
If the cutting material is too soft, it will rot. It takes some
experience to collect the cuttings at the right time. Cuttings establish
more readily if kept warm under the flats for weeks at 20 to 30° C (68
to 86° F). Once roots are established on cuttings, plant them in 2\" or
4\" pots. Pot them in bigger containers as the plants grow. *Salvia
apiana* grows rapidly, so it is usually ready to out-plant in 6 months
to a year in southern California (warmer climates). In northern
California, out-plant when the plants are a year old because the winters
are sometimes too severe for them. It is best to outplant in the fall;
don\'t plant in the summer.

###### Management

Horticultural management includes avoiding over-watering seedlings and
plants. Plants will mildew if they experience excessive humidity or too
much shade. Aphids can be a problem for younger plants, particularly in
the spring. As the plants grow older, they are fairly resistant to
herbivores.

*Traditional Resource Management*: Traditional management of white sage
includes the following:

-   Pruning leaves and branches to stimulate new growth.

-   Since this is a valued medicine plant, prayer, thanksgiving, and
    ceremony are important components of harvest and renewal.

-   Burning occurred during September and October after seeds ripened.
    *Salvia* species were burned for plant improvement by the Cupreño,
    Mountain Cahuilla, Northern Digueño, and Southern Digueño.

-   Seeds were planted from wild plants. A Diegueño woman reported her
    people always cleared a small spot near their dwelling to plant
    seeds of plants with greens, seeds, or roots.

-   Ownership of seed-gathering grounds promoted long term care and
    sustainable harvest practices.

###### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

This species is readily available from native plant nurseries throughout
its range. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service
(formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look
in the phone book under "United States Government." The Natural
Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading
"Department of Agriculture."

###### References

Anderson, K.M. 1993. *Native Californians as ancient and contemporary
cultivators*. IN: Thomas C. Blackburn and Kat Anderson (eds.). Before
the wilderness. Environmental management by native Californians. Pages
151-174. Ballena Press.

Barrett, S.A. & E.W. Gifford 1933. *Miwok material culture. Indian life
of the Yosemite region.* Yosemite Association, Yosemite National Park,
California. 388 pp.

Barrows, D.P. 1977. *Ethno-botany of the Coahuilla Indians*. Malki
Museum Press. Morongo Indian Reservation, Banning, California. 82 pp.

Bean, L.J. & H.W. Lawton 1993. *Some explanations for the rise of
cultural complexity in native California with comments on
proto-agriculture and Agriculture*. IN: Thomas C. Blackburn and Kat
Anderson ( eds*.)* Before the wilderness. Environmental management by
native Californians. Pages 27-54. Ballena Press.

Clebsch, B. 1997. *A book of Salvias. Sages for every garden*. Timber
Press, Inc. 220 pp.

Hartmann, H. T., D. E. Kester, F. T. Davies, Jr. 1990. *Plant
propagation principles and practices*. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey. 647 pp.

Hickman, J.C. (ed.) 1993. *The Jepson manual. Higher plants of
California*. University of California Press. 1399 pp.

Martin, A.C., H. S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson 1951. *American wildlife and
plants. A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York. 500 pp.

Mayer, K. E. & W.F. Laudenslayer Jr. (ed.) 1988. *A guide to wildlife
habitats of California*. USDA Forest Service, California Department of
Fish and Game, and PG&E.

Murphy, E.V.A. 1959. *Indian uses of native plants*. Mendocino County
Historical Society. 81 pp.

O'Brien, B.C. 1998. *California's Salvias (part 2).* The Southern
California Gardener 7(3):2-5

O'Brien, B.C. 1997. *California's Salvias (part 1)*. The Southern
California Gardener 7(2):2-5.

O'Brien, B.C. 1997. *Horticulture and classification of the section
Audibertia of the Genus Salvia.* IN: *Out of the wild and into the
garden II: California's horticulturally significant plants*. 1995
Symposium Proceedings Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Occasional
Publications #2. Pages 136-163.

Strike, S.S. 1994. *Ethnobotany of the California Indians. Volume 2.
Aboriginal uses of California\'s indigenous plants*. Koeltz Scientific
Books, USA/Germany. 220 pp.

Timbrook, J., J.R. Johnson, & D.D. Earle 1993. *Vegetation burning by
the Chumash*. IN: Thomas C. Blackburn and Kat Anderson. (eds*.). Before
the wilderness. Environmental management by native Californians*. Pages
117-150. Ballena Press.

USDA, NRCS 1999. *The PLANTS database*. National Plant Data Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Version: 990518.

###### Prepared By

*Michelle Stevens*

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

#### *Bart O'Brien*

Director of Horticulture, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont,
California

###### Species Coordinator

#### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 03jun03 ahv; 060816 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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