Salvia vaseyi
Scallopleaf sage
(c) W. Terry Hunefeld, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Salvia vaseyi (Scallopleaf sage) is a native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by white flowers and spine-tipped calyx lobes would be distinctive.
Scallopleaf sage is a California native shrub found on the western edge of the Desert Sonoran bioregion in dry, rocky desert slopes and creosote-bush scrub at elevations below 1,100 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces white flowers with a delicate corolla tube 13 to 20 millimeters long, featuring a lower lip 6 to 9 millimeters wide. Growing as a compact subshrub less than 1.5 meters tall, it develops dense, minute appressed hairs across its foliage. Its basal leaves are 2 to 6 centimeters long with oblong-ovate blades, featuring minute rounded teeth and a base that ranges from truncate to tapered. The fruit is small, light brown, and measures 2.5 to 3 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; white flowers and spine-tipped calyx lobes would be distinctive
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, rocky desert slopes, canyons, creosote-bush scrub
Elevation: < 1100 m
California counties: San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Salvia vaseyi blooms Apr-Jun.
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 vaseyi native to California?
Yes. Salvia vaseyi is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Salvia vaseyi bloom?
Salvia vaseyi blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Salvia vaseyi grow?
Salvia vaseyi occurs in San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, San Bernardino, at elevations of < 1100 m.
What plant family does Salvia vaseyi belong to?
Salvia vaseyi is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Salvia.
What habitat does Salvia vaseyi grow in?
Salvia vaseyi grows in Dry, rocky desert slopes, canyons, creosote-bush scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Salvia virgata — Meadow sage
- Salvia aethiopis — Mediterranean sage
- Salvia apiana — White sage
- Salvia brandegeei — Brandegee's sage
- Salvia carduacea — Thistle sage
- Salvia clevelandii — Cleveland sage
- Scutellaria antirrhinoides — Nose skullcap
- Scutellaria bolanderi — Bolander's skullcap
- Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. austromontana — Southern mountains skullcap
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.