Description

White Sage/Desert Sage/Sacred Sage- can be a slow growing, difficult to establish plant that can take up to three years to reach a mature size. The plant above is a three year old pictured in spring. The body of the plant gets to be two to three feet tall and can spread eight feet or more. The flower wands will add  two to five feet to the height and will  have tiny insignificant looking white flowers that are dotted with lavender. At least they are insignificant to us, to the bees they are heaven, which it is why it is sometimes referred to as bee sage. White Sage has highly aromatic, waxy gray leaves that are used for incense.

Growing Information:

Salvia Apiana will grow in a wide variety of soil types, but the soil must be well-draining.  It is considered difficult to grow from seed, and germination tends to be slow and irregular.  For best results, the seeds should be cold stratified in the fridge for 2-4 weeks.  Then surface sow them in a moist well-draining mix and cover with clear wrap.  Keep the seeds at a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and wait for germination to occur.  Once the seeds sprout, remove the plastic.  Once the plants are established, transplant them outside to a location with full sun and well-draining soil.  In areas colder than zone 7, plants should be grown in pots and brought indoors for the winter.  The leaves can be harvested anytime from May through September and dried for later use.