Salvia greatae
Orocopia sage, Orocopia Sage
(c) Melanie J. Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 1B.3
Salvia greatae (Orocopia sage) is a native California shrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by spiny leaves and low desert elevation distinctive.
Orocopia sage is a rare (CNPS 1B.3) California native shrub found in the Orocopia and Chocolate Mountains in alluvial slopes at elevations of 30 to 450 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces lavender to rose flowers with an upper lip 2 to 2.5 millimeters long and a lower lip 4 to 5 millimeters long. Growing less than one meter tall with glandular, tangled hairs, it forms dense clusters of many-flowered inflorescences. Its green-tomentose leaves are sessile to short-petioled, approximately ovate, with a single spine at the tip and 2 to 7 pairs of spines along the margins. The fruit is flat and keeled, measuring 2 to 3 millimeters long and ranging from gray to brown in color.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; spiny leaves and low desert elevation distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Alluvial slopes
Elevation: 30-450 m
California counties: Riverside, Imperial, Monterey
Bloom period
Salvia greatae blooms Mar-Apr.
Conservation status
CNPS 1B.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 greatae native to California?
Yes. Salvia greatae is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salvia greatae bloom?
Salvia greatae blooms Mar-Apr.
Where in California does Salvia greatae grow?
Salvia greatae occurs in Riverside, Imperial, Monterey, at elevations of 30-450 m.
What plant family does Salvia greatae belong to?
Salvia greatae is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Salvia.
Is Salvia greatae rare or endangered?
Salvia greatae carries California Rare Plant Rank 1B.3, state rank S2S3.
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.