Purple Sage
Salvia carnosa

Family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae

What it is like

Salvia carnosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Height (m): 0.8

Where it is found

Dry slopes and flats, 1000 - 1500 metres in California.

South-western N. America.

Conservation Status:

Countries/locations it is found in

How it is used

Food

Rating: 1

Seed - cooked. Ground into a powder and used to thicken soups etc or added to cereal flours when making bread etc.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 2

A decoction of the seeds and stems is used to treat colds. A decoction or infusion of the leaves has been used in the treatment of fevers, coughs, colds and stomach aches. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied tot he chest to treat congestion. A decoction of the leaves and stems can be drunk, used as a wash or as a steam bath in the treatment of headaches. A decoction of the flowering stems has been used as a poultice and a wash to treat swollen leg veins. The plant is much valued as a treatment for an epileptic or faint person, either administered as a drink or prepared like tobacco and the smoke blown into the patients face.

Analgesic: Relieves pain.

Antispasmodic: Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Pectoral: Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases.

Stomachic: Aids and improves the action of the stomach.

Other

Rating:

How it is grown

Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position. Prefers a rich soil. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagating it: Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood succeed at almost any time in the growing season.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Shrub

Hardiness: 6-9

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

S. dorrii carnosa. (Dougl.)Abrams. S. dorrii incana. (Benth.)Strachan.