Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
No machine-readable author provided. Curtis Clark assumed (based on copyright claims).
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- Salvia mellifera
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 6-8 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr, may, jun, jul
- Bloom Colors:
- Blue, Purple
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: California
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Pherne subpunctata, Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus), Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Crotch bumble bee (Bombus crotchii), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Yellow-faced bumble bee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Common in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seed germination is stimulated by the presence of charred wood or aqueous extracts of it, resulting in a 21% increase in germination as compared to control.
Establishment: S. mellifera is found within the mattoral vegetation association of California.
Source: npn.rngr.net