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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Salvia dorrii (Purple sage)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Salvia dorrii

Salvia dorrii (Kellogg) Abrams

Purple Sage, Gray Ball Sage, Dorri Sage, Desert Sage

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: sado4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A many-branched sub-shrub, 2-3 ft. tall and often broader than high, with numerous silvery-gray leaves and rigid, often spiny branches. Deep blue to blue-violet bilaterally symmetrical flowers rise in long, showy, spike-like clusters above the silvery foliage.

It is this sage, not sagebrush, that is referred to in Zane Grey's classic Western, Riders of the Purple Sage. It is a handsome plant, pretty in leaf as well as in flower.

 

From the Image Gallery

13 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Nutlets.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Blue , Purple , Violet
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , ID , NV , OR , UT , WA
Native Distribution: WA & OR, e. of the Cascades, to CA, e. to s.w. ID, UT & AZ
Native Habitat: Dry, open scabland & sagebrush areas

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Soil Description: Dry, perfectly drained soils.

Value to Beneficial Insects

Special Value to Native Bees

This information was provided by the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

Propagation

Description: Propagate from seeds or softwood cuttings.
Seed Collection: Collect the seeds as the capsules begin to dry but before they have dropped the seeds. Spread seeds in thin layers to dry a few days before storing in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Generally, a cold-moist stratification period is required for germination of Salvia seed.
Commercially Avail: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 37 - Calscape (2019) California Native Plant Society
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Salvia dorrii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Salvia dorrii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Salvia dorrii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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