Native Plants

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.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Cressler, Alan

Salvia urticifolia

Salvia urticifolia L.

Nettleleaf Sage, Nettle-leaved Sage, Wild Sage

Lamiaceae (Mint Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: saur

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Erect, somewhat viscid, blue- or purple-flowering (ocassionally white) perennial to 20-70cm. Leaves petioled, base cuneate, and deltoid or ovate, margin crenate or crenate-dentate, resembling the leaves of Urtica sp.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 28 inches tall.
Fruit: Nutlets.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Blue , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: Flowers in panicles on short pedicels, clustered in tiers on the stem. Corolla about 1.2cm in length. Lower lip 3-lobed, notched with a pair of white marks extending out of throat.

Distribution

USA: AL , DC , FL , GA , KY , MD , MS , NC , PA , SC , TN , VA
Native Distribution: Hilly uplands from Pennsylvania south to Mississipi and into Florida.
Native Habitat: Open, dry woods and thickets, often on basic soils.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
Drought Tolerance: Medium , High
Soil Description: Prefers basic soils.
Conditions Comments: Dry, open woodlands on basic soils in upland Southeastern US.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy attractive flowers. Species could be used in the landscape.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

Bibliography

Bibref 1238 - Flora of the Southeastern United States (1913) Small, J. K.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Webref 83 - Wildflowers of the United States (2020) Gerry Williamson

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-27
Research By: Joseph A. Marcus

Go back