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White Sage

Salvia apiana

true

1 gallon; 3 gallon

White Sage

In stock

5-8'x1-6'

Sizes:

White Sage — Salvia apiana

Also known as: Sacred Sage

White Sage is a striking and aromatic shrub native only to southern California and northern Baja California, where it grows on coastal slopes, chaparral, and foothill areas. It’s easy to identify by its soft, silvery-white leaves, which start out green when young and turn pale as they mature. In spring, it sends up tall spikes of white flowers delicately streaked with lavender, rising above the foliage and swaying in the wind. Depending on conditions, plants can grow anywhere from 3 to 8 feet tall and up to 6 feet wide, forming a beautiful presence in the garden.

White Sage holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples of southern California, who have used it for ceremonial, medicinal, and practical purposes for generations. It is endemic to this region and does not occur naturally anywhere else in the world.

Ecologically, White Sage is an important food source for pollinators and seed-eating birds. The flowers are rich in nectar and primarily pollinated by large native bees, especially carpenter bees, which are strong enough to access the flower structure. Butterflies and hummingbirds also visit the blooms, and birds forage for both insects and seeds, or use the dense structure for nesting.

Unfortunately, wild populations of White Sage are under significant threat from urban development, illegal poaching for smudge sticks, climate change, drought, and increasingly frequent wildfires. When using or planting White Sage, it's important to source from nursery-grown, ethical stock—not wild-collected plants.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: —
Nectar Source: Monarch (Danaus plexippus); White-lined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata); native carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.); honeybee (Apis mellifera)
Bird Resources: Caterpillars; Seeds; Nest Sites
Bird Species: Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna); White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys); Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii); California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Native

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

5-8'x1-6'

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

White

Flower season:

Winter; Spring; Summer

Pruning:

Shape when young if needed. Remove old flower stalks

Cold Hardiness:

10 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Yes

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Yes

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.