Salvia carduacea
Thistle sage
(c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ken-ichi Ueda · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Salvia carduacea (Thistle sage) is a native California herb in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by thistle-like appearance with spiny bracts diagnostic.
Thistle sage is a California native annual found in the San Joaquin Valley, eastern San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, southwestern California, and western deserts in sandy or gravelly soils at elevations below 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces lavender to blue-white flowers with distinctive spiny bracts up to 5 centimeters long in compact clusters 1.5 to 3 centimeters wide. Growing 10 to 100 centimeters tall with white-woolly stems, it develops an erect, somewhat branching form. Its basal leaves are oblanceolate, deeply dissected with wavy, short-spiny margins, measuring 3 to 10 centimeters long and creating a delicate, intricate foliage pattern. The plant produces small tan to gray fruits flecked with lighter markings, each about 2.5 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; thistle-like appearance with spiny bracts diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy or gravelly soils
Elevation: < 1400 m
California counties: Kern, Inyo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Diego, San Benito, Tulare, Fresno, Ventura, Monterey, Merced, Yolo, San Joaquin, Kings, Contra Costa, Stanislaus, Madera, Alameda, Orange, Santa Clara
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Salvia carduacea blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Gambelia: Salvia has opposite leaves and square stems (mint family), while Gambelia has alternate leaves.; vs Encelia: Salvia has tubular two-lipped flowers, while Encelia has yellow daisy-like flower heads.; vs Artemisia: Salvia has showy tubular flowers, while Artemisia has tiny inconspicuous flowers in narrow spikes.; vs Trichostema: Salvia has flowers in interrupted whorls, while Trichostema has long curved stamens protruding from flowers.; vs Stachys: Salvia typically has grayish aromatic leaves, while Stachys has green wrinkled leaves and denser flower spikes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salvia carduacea native to California?
Yes. Salvia carduacea is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salvia carduacea bloom?
Salvia carduacea blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Salvia carduacea grow?
Salvia carduacea occurs in Kern, Inyo, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Riverside, San Diego and other counties, at elevations of < 1400 m.
What plant family does Salvia carduacea belong to?
Salvia carduacea is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Salvia.
What habitat does Salvia carduacea grow in?
Salvia carduacea grows in Sandy or gravelly soils.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.