Plant Profile: Salvia microphylla

Taxonomy: Salvia microphylla

Names

Baby Sage, Blackcurrant Sage, Graham's Sage, Little Leaf Sage

  • Photo of Salvia microphylla (Salvia microphyllas)

Phonetic Spelling:SAL-vee-ah my-kro-FIL-uh

Genus:Salvia

Species:microphylla

Family:Lamiaceae

Little Leaf Sage is a resilient evergreen shrub belonging to the mint family, native to the wild regions of southeastern Arizona and the mountainous areas of eastern, western, and southern Mexico. This species is notably intricate and readily hybridizes, leading to a variety of hybrids and cultivars that have been introduced into horticulture since the 1990s. It demonstrates excellent tolerance to drought and heat, as well as a moderate resistance to salt.

In spring, the plant produces flower spikes in vibrant shades of pink, red, and white, with the blooming continuing into the fall. Its aromatic leaves can be utilized for brewing teas. This versatile plant is ideal for use in perennial borders, native or pollinator gardens, and xeriscaping projects.

For further details on Salvia, please refer to additional resources.

Salvia microphylla Feature Summary

Salvia microphylla Image Gallery

Tags

#hummingbirds
#arching
#showy flowers
#full sun tolerant
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#edible plant
#shrub
#fragrant leaves
#salt tolerant
#medicinal
#low maintenance
#cottage garden
#mounding
#well-drained soil
#spreading
#tender perennial
#deer resistant
#dense
#native garden
#long bloom time
#pollinator plant
#humidity tolerant
#dry soils tolerant
#butterfly friendly
#partial shade tolerant
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Salvia microphylla is often confused with:

Salvia microphylla Feature Summary

Attributes
Fever reducer, treatment for coughs
Arizona to Guatemala
Southern US, Central America
Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Leaves have a scent of blackcurrant and can be used fresh or dried as a flavoring in an herbal tea,
Perennial
Leaves
Green, almost triangular, toothed edges, edible, aromatic.
Crenulate
< 1 inch
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Shrub
Arching
Mounding
Dense
Spreading
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Piedmont
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Fruit
Flowers
Pink
White
Red/Burgundy
Showy
Long Bloom Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
Tubular
Lipped
< 1 inch
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Cottage Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Drought
Deer
Heat
Humidity
Salt
Dry Soil
Container
Naturalized Area
Coastal
Butterflies
Hummingbirds

Salvia microphylla Attributes

Salvia microphylla: Uses (Ethnobotany)

Fever reducer, treatment for coughs

Salvia microphylla: Country Or Region Of Origin

Arizona to Guatemala

Salvia microphylla: Distribution

Southern US, Central America

Salvia microphylla: Wildlife Value

Attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

Salvia microphylla: Edibility

Leaves have a scent of blackcurrant and can be used fresh or dried as a flavoring in an herbal tea,

Salvia microphylla: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Salvia microphylla: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Salvia microphylla Leaves

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Description

Green, almost triangular, toothed edges, edible, aromatic.

Salvia microphylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Salvia microphylla: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Salvia microphylla: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Salvia microphylla Whole Plant Traits

Salvia microphylla: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Salvia microphylla: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Salvia microphylla: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Salvia microphylla: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Salvia microphylla: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Salvia microphylla: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Salvia microphylla Cultural Conditions

Salvia microphylla: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Salvia microphylla: Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Salvia microphylla: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Salvia microphylla: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Salvia microphylla: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Salvia microphylla: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Salvia microphylla: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Salvia microphylla Fruit

Salvia microphylla: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Salvia microphylla Flowers

Salvia microphylla: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Pink
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy
filter_vintage
White

Salvia microphylla: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Salvia microphylla: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Salvia microphylla: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Salvia microphylla: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Salvia microphylla: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Salvia microphylla Stem

Salvia microphylla: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Salvia microphylla: Stem Cross Section

Angular
Oval
Round
Square

Salvia microphylla Landscape

Salvia microphylla: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Salvia microphylla: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Salvia microphylla: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Salvia microphylla: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Salvia microphylla: Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees