Salvia eremostachya
Desert sage
(c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Salvia eremostachya (Desert sage) is a native California shrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by no sympatric species.
Desert sage is a California native shrub found on the western edge of the Desert Mountains in dry, rocky, gravelly places within lower pinyon and juniper woodland at elevations of 450 to 1,400 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces white to pale lilac flowers with rose to purple bracts in small clusters along each stem. Growing with an erect, finely branched structure 60 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops a distinctive form with linear leaves that are puckered and have minute rounded teeth. Its leaves are approximately 1.5 to 3.3 centimeters long with a truncate base, creating a unique textural appearance in its arid habitat. The fruit is small, approximately 3 millimeters long and yellow-brown in color.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; no sympatric species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky, gravelly places, lower pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 450-1400 m
California counties: Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Salvia eremostachya blooms Mar-May.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
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 eremostachya native to California?
Yes. Salvia eremostachya is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salvia eremostachya bloom?
Salvia eremostachya blooms Mar-May.
Where in California does Salvia eremostachya grow?
Salvia eremostachya occurs in Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, at elevations of 450-1400 m.
What plant family does Salvia eremostachya belong to?
Salvia eremostachya is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Salvia.
Is Salvia eremostachya rare or endangered?
Salvia eremostachya carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
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.