Salvia virgata
Meadow sage, Meadow Sage
(c) Hectonichus, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Lamiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Salvia virgata (Meadow sage) is a non-native California subshrub in the Lamiaceae family, recognized by large heart-shaped leaves and distinctive flower lip proportions.
Meadow sage is a naturalized perennial herb found in eastern Klamath Ranges, Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada in disturbed areas at elevations of 270 to 830 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces blue to purple flowers in spike-like clusters with 4 to 6 blooms. Growing up to one meter tall with soft, slightly hairy stems, it develops an upright structure with distinctive foliage. Its leaves are 5 to 27 centimeters long, oblong to ovate-oblong in shape, with irregular teeth and soft hair on the undersides. The plant's flowers feature a delicate calyx tinged with blue to purple and a corolla tube with an arched upper lip that extends more than twice the length of the lower lip.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; large heart-shaped leaves and distinctive flower lip proportions
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: 270-830 m
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Salvia virgata blooms Jun-Aug.
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 virgata native to California?
No. Salvia virgata is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Salvia virgata bloom?
Salvia virgata blooms Jun-Aug.
What plant family does Salvia virgata belong to?
Salvia virgata is in the Lamiaceae family, genus Salvia.
What habitat does Salvia virgata grow in?
Salvia virgata grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Salvia aethiopis — Mediterranean sage
- Salvia apiana — White sage
- Salvia brandegeei — Brandegee's sage
- Salvia carduacea — Thistle sage
- Salvia clevelandii — Cleveland sage
- Salvia columbariae — Chia
- Scutellaria antirrhinoides — Nose skullcap
- Scutellaria bolanderi — Bolander's skullcap
- Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. austromontana — Southern mountains skullcap
- Scutellaria bolanderi subsp. bolanderi
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.