Sage 'White'

Scientific Name: Salvia apiana

Common Names: White Sage, Californian White Sage, Bee Sage, Sacred Sage

Exposure: Full sun

Height: Up to 1.3 meters (4.3 feet)

Width: Up to 1.3 meters (4.3 feet)

Spacing: Approximately 1 metre (3.3 feet)

Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

Foliage: Aromatic, lance-shaped leaves with a white, woolly covering

Bloom Time: Spring

Flower Colour: White with lavender spots

Uses: Traditional culinary applications, medicinal purposes, ceremonial smudging

Plant Habit: Upright, multi-stemmed shrub

Water: Low; drought-tolerant once established

Maintenance: Low; requires minimal pruning

Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 8–10

General Information: Salvia apiana, commonly known as White Sage, is an evergreen perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, particularly in the coastal sage scrub habitats of Southern California and Baja California. It typically grows between 0.6 to 1.3 metres (2 to 4.3 feet) in height and width. The leaves are aromatic, lance-shaped, and covered with a white, woolly coating due to fine hairs. In spring, the plant produces white flowers with lavender spots, which are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.