Salvia mellifera
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Salvia mellifera
- From: K*@aol.com
- Date: Fri, 23 Apr 1999 14:54:56 EDT
On a recent bird-watching trip with the Audubon Society, I was delighted to
find whole hillsides covered with this California native in full bloom. The
area is known as Kiln Canyon, and is a small side canyon off of Corral Hollow
Road in the inner Coast Range near Tracy, California. The Black Sage is a
magnet for migrating hummingbirds. There were hundreds of individuals of a
number of species, including Rufous Hummingbird (the most numerous), Anna's
Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Black-Chinned Hummingbird, and Calliope
Hummingbird. The sage chaparral was almost monocultural, with only
occasional specimens of Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Coyote Brush
(Baccharis pilularis), Yerba Santa (Eriodyction californicum), and Juniper
(Juniperus californica). On a warm, still day, the fragrance of the aromatic
plants must be intoxicating. The Salvia forms rounded, evergreen shrubs 1-2
m in height. The flowers aren't particularly showy, being smallish and pale
lavender in color. The plants were growing primarily on steep (and
presumably well-drained) hillsides in an area that receives ~15 inches of
rain per year, all during the winter months. The leaves are a dark,
spinach-y green and very leathery and rugose, with a pleasant sage smell when
crushed. A happy evergreen shrub for a sunny, dry, well-drained slope.
Particularly for those of you who like to attract birds to your garden.
Kurt Mize
Stockton, California
USDA Zone 9
