Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Other common names
Dorr sage
Dorr's sage
grayball sage
desert sage
tobacco sage
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Similar species
salvia dorii ssp. mearnsii
A rounded bush with many rigid, spine-tipped branches, silvery leaves, often broader than high, with numerous silvery-gray leaves and rigid, often spiny branches. Flower bracts are broad, about 1/3 inch wide and are reddish-purple to pale blue.
A multi-branched shrub with dense bracted clusters of flowers at the ends of branches; flower tubes about 1/2 inch long, exerted stamens, sepals 1/8 to 1/2 inch long; grayish, hairy but not dissected leaves distinguish this plant.
Height
2 to 3 feet
Width
2 to 3 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Grows in sandy, rocky or limestone soil on dry open slopes, on flats or foothills, often associated with pinyon-juniper, sagebrush, chaparral, and cool desert shrub habitats.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2500
High elevation
5000
Leaves
Leaf color
Grayish
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf hairs
Top and bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Evergreen
Leaves are opposite, oval, 1/2 to 1-1/2 inches long, 1/5 to 1/2 inch wide, are widest at the tip and taper to the stem. Leaves have a smooth margin, are grayish, aromatic, and are retained on the plant throughout the winter months.
Flowers
Flower color
Pale blue to reddish-purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
July
Flowers 1/2 inch long in a series of showy, terminal clusters. Flowers have longer 3-lobed bottom lips, shorter 2-lobed upper lips. Stamens extend beyond the corolla. The style is narrow, long and 2-parted.
Flower clusters
Rounded
Fruit
Fruit color
Brown
Fruit type
Achene
4 thick-walled achenes are produced per flower.