Family: Lamiaceae

An upright growing, herbaceous perennial growing to 3+’ tall. Pale blue or lavender flowers from July into fall. Likes shady spots and moisture.

Plant in part sun, and provide moderate water with good drainage. Cold hardiness unknown but definitely hardy for our region.

Probably hummingbird pollinated. Salvias are larval hosts for many moth species.

The common name comes from where it was first found (in the Santa Catalina mountains) where it has become extremely rare. There are 1045 species of Salvia all over the world. The genus name, salvia, comes from the Latin word salvia, which is related to the Latin words salvus (safe, healthy, secure) and salvēre (to heal, to feel healthy). The name refers to the medicinal properties of some plants in the genus. The species name, amissa, (Latin) means dismissed, sent away, or lost, referring to the elusive nature of this plant—hasn’t been seen in some of its previously known territory.

Endemic to Arizona, Salvia amissa is found in the Tonto National Forest, Upper Gila River, Galiuro Mountains and the Superstition Mountains, 1500-5000' in gravel, sand, and silt in canyon bottoms shaded by ash, walnut, sycamore, and mesquite.

Photo by Conor and Alexandra, iNaturalist
Salvia amissa on SEINET