Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Synonyms
Salvia lancifolia, S. trichostemoides
Other common names
blue sage
lambsleaf sage
sagemint
mintweed
Rocky Mountain sage
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Height
4 to 16 inches
Riparian
No
Annual of varying habitat; aromatic, without translucent glandular dots or streaks on leaves or leaves and flowers, stems square, sometimes tinged deep purple, herbage with soft hairs to somewhat hairless.
Annual, not glandular; leaves mostly narrow to lance-like; flowers blue or bluish-white, upper lip helmet-shaped, lower lip spreading or drooping and 3-lobed; sepals 2-parted, 12 to 13 ridges (nerves), stamens inserted in the upper lip of the flowers.
Habitat
Plains, mesas, rocky slopes, open pine forest, disturbed areas, roadsides and pastures.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Disturbed Areas
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
4000
High elevation
7000
Flower Characteristics
Interrupted spikes in a line of 2 opposite flowers; corolla strongly 2-lipped; upper lip helmet-shaped, entire or 2-lobed; lower lip spreading or drooping and 3-lobed; calyx lobes divided into 2 lips; 2 fertile stamens inserted in tube of corolla.
Flower color
Blue or bluish-white
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Elongated
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems 1/16 to 3/4 inches long; leaves opposite, lance-like to oblong or linear, 3/4 to 3 inches long, margins entire or notched like a saw with teeth pointing toward the tip.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Smooth, 4.
Fruit type
Nutlet