Salvia azurea

azure blue sage, blue sage, pitcher's sage, pitcher sage
Family

Lamiaceae

Leaf Arrangement

opposite

Leaf Attachment

petiolate

Leaf Margin

entire, denticulate, serrate

Leaf Type

simple

Leaf Shape

linear, oblong, lanceolate, oblanceolate, obovate

Growth Form

forb

Flower Color

blue, white

Flower Month

May - October

Height (meters)

0.6 - 1.5

Milky Sap

No

Armed/Unarmed

Unarmed

Origin

native

Lifespan

perennial

Growing Season

Warm season


Prairie Coefficient of Conservatism

10

Cultural Information

Not the showiest of wildflowers but this perennial often blooms the entire growing season. Seeds average approximately 160,000/lb.

Animal Use

Desirable to cattle as forage. A palatable forb readily eaten by all classes of livestock (Philips Petroleum Company 1955).

Natural History

Grows on a wide range of soils and is found in prairies throughout the prairie region of the United States. In Midwestern prairies it is reported to prefer hillside sites. It is palatable, nutritious, and is readily eaten by all classes of livestock. Range cattle are reported to make good use of it in the spring (Philips Petroleum Company 1955). For these reasons it is a decreaser in native pastures that have been grazed heavily.

Habitat

Dry prairies, oak-cedar hills, flats and openings, sandy or rocky woods, sandy prairies.