Salvia apiana

Common Names

White Sage, Bee Sage, Sacred Sage, California White Sage, Sacred White Sage, Californian White Sage

Summary

White Sage is an evergreen shrub native to the coastal sage scrub of Southern California and Baja California, growing about 3–5 ft tall and 3–8 ft wide. It features silvery-gray, densely hairy leaves with a strong resinous aroma and tall flower spikes bearing white to pale lavender blossoms in spring, giving a ghostly appearance and attracting pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds; its dry slopes habitat includes chaparral and coastal sage scrub below 1,500 m.

In cultivation, it requires full sun, well-drained soil, and very low water once established; hardy in USDA zones 7–11; propagation by seed or cuttings; wild populations are threatened by overharvest, so cultivated forms are preferred. It is used in pollinator gardens and for ceremonial, culinary, and incense applications, and is drought-tolerant with low maintenance, benefiting from pruning after flowering and minimal fertilization.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

3-5 feet

Spread

3-6 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8-11

Sunlight Requirements

Full sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Tolerates all pH levels

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring and Summer

Foliage Color

Silvery gray foliage

Fall Foliage Color

No fall color; evergreen.

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, birds