Stats

Lifespan

Up to 50 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Coastal sage scrub

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Toxins

Status

Common

About

Black sage is a drought-hardy California chaparral shrub whose pale blue-white flower whorls are one of the most important nectar sources for honeybees in the region — its species epithet 'mellifera' literally means 'honey-bearing.' Its strongly aromatic leaves release a sharp, resinous scent when brushed.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Lamiales

Family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Salvia

Species

Salvia mellifera