Colorado Sage Plants

Sage plants are members of the ​Salvia​ genus, the largest branch of the mint family. Many of these aromatic, woody, herbaceous shrubs are well suited to the cool, dry, high-altitude climate of the state of Colorado. Of the different types of sage, the sage species which thrive in Colorado include white sage (​Salvia apiana​, USDA hardiness zones 8-10), Mediterranean sage (​Salvia aethiopis​, zones 5-8), and Russian sage (​Salvia yangii​, zones 3-9).

Mediterranean sage is native to southern Europe. It grows voraciously throughout the western United States, often being considered an invasive weed, according to the Colorado Department of Agriculture. It is also planted as a garden ornamental and has been used medicinally to dress wounds.

Mediterranean sage reaches a mature height of around 3 feet. Its fuzzy, gray-green leaves grow in ground-hugging rosettes 1 to 4 feet in diameter. These leaves may be between 4 and 12 inches long, with 1.5- to 3.5-inch-long stems. From the center of each rosette, furry stalks arise bearing clusters of white or pale yellow downy blossoms. Each flower contains four ovular, brown seeds.

This wild sage plant thrives in loose, gravelly, well drained soils and can frequently be found on south-facing slopes. These sage bushes propagate themselves through seed and are classified as either biennials or short-lived perennials. Mediterranean sage plants are sometimes mistaken for common mullein (​Verbascum thapsus​, zones 3-9).

Russian sage is native to Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is famously drought-resistant and prospers in rocky and gravelly soils, making it a perfect plant for Colorado, according to Colorado State University Extension. Russian sage loves full sun. This woody, deciduous shrub reaches an average height of between 3 and 5 feet, with a width of between 2 and 3 feet.

Its long, lobed leaves grow to about 2 inches long. The leaves and stalks are silvery grayish-white in color. In the late summer or early fall, spires of tubular, lavender flowers emerge, lasting for several months. Like Mediterranean sage, Russian sage emits a pungent, musky odor when its leaves are crushed.

Another type of sage commonly found in Colorado is white sage, also known as bee sage. This herb's second title is because of its propensity towards attracting bees. It has been used by beekeepers for this purpose. White sage grows abundantly in dry, rocky soils. It prefers full sun and good air circulation, making it an ideal plant for Colorado's wide open plains.

According to the California Native Plant Society, white sage attains a mature height of 4 to 5 feet, with a width of around 4 feet. It produces 3- to 4-foot stalks of lavender flowers similar in appearance to those of Russian sage. Its leaves, which remain year-round, are greenish-white in color, while its woody stalks may be white or pink. White sage grows during the winter, remaining dormant during the warmer months.

This aromatic herb was widely utilized by the indigenous inhabitants of its natural habitat for a variety of medicinal, cosmetic and ceremonial purposes. It was used to prepare a treatment for coughs, colds, sore throats and respiratory ailments. It was also used as a shampoo and deodorant. White sage leaves were burnt in religious ceremonies and to purify homes after the end of an illness.