Lemmon’s Sage
Salvia lemmonii
Family: Lamiaceae
Shrub up to 3-4’ tall, getting up to 5’ wide. Red flowers most of the warm season.
This species often gets confused with Salvia microphylla, especially in the landscape trade.
Full to part sun, moderate to regular water, foliage hardy to 10°F, root hardy to -10°F.
Photo by Donna Pomeroy, iNaturalist
Salvia lemmonii on SEINET
Hummingbirds, butterflies, and other species use the nectar. Larval host to many species of moths.
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, lemmonii, is named for John Gill Lemmon (1832-1908) and his wife Sara Plummer Lemmon (1836-1923) who collected in Arizona in 1884.
Found on dry, rocky slopes, often in canyons from 6,000-8,000 ft. from Arizona, south into Sonora and Chihuahua.
A blooming branch of white sage, photo by Christian Schwarz, iNaturalist
More flower detail, photo by Kat Halsey, iNaturalist