Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Houseplants >> Plants for Details >> Salvias

Black Sage (Salvia mellifera)

Black Sage
Mellifera flowers
Mellifera foliage

Overview

Salvia mellifera, known as Black Sage, is a dominant shrub of the coastal sage scrub community in California. It has aromatic, dark green, wrinkled leaves that turn blackish in drought. In spring, it produces spikes of pale blue to lavender flowers. Important for wildlife and erosion control.

Taxonomy

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: mellifera
Synonyms: Audibertia stachyoides, Ramona stachyoides

Culture

Full sun, well-drained soil, extremely drought tolerant. Grows 3–6 feet tall and wide. Hardy to zone 8. Excellent for California native gardens, slope stabilization, and fire-wise landscaping. Not for humid climates.

Salvias: Salvia mexicana: Mexican Sage with Blue Flowers and Green Calyces; Wild Sage (Salvia hians); Bolivian Sage (Salvia exserta); Thistle Sage (Salvia carduacea); Wagner's Sage (Salvia wagneriana); Rock Sage (Salvia pinguifolia); Texas Sage (Salvia texana); Salvia canariensis – Majestic Canary Island Sage; Salvia namaensis – Rare Namibian Sage from Africa; Salvia sonomensis (Creeping Sage / Sonoma Sage)

Garden Articles

Salvia apiana: White Sage, Sacred Ceremonial Plant

Salvia yunnanensis (Yunnan Sage)

Salvia nutans (Nodding Sage)

Salvia staminea (Iranian Sage)

Salvia ringens (Rumanian Sage)

Salvia rypara (River Sage)

Salvia lemmonii (Lemmon's Sage)

Plants

Salvia elegans: Pineapple Sage with Fragrant Foliage and Red Flowers

Salvia officinalis: Common Sage, the Culinary Herb

Salvia madrensis: Forsythia Sage with Yellow Flowers

Salvia patens: Gentian Sage with Intense Blue Flowers

Salvia pachyphylla: Mohave Sage with Purple Flowers and Silver Foliage

Crimson Sage (Salvia spathacea)

Salvia mexicana: The Towering Mexican Sage