Salvia urticifolia L.

Nettle Leaf Sage

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Nettle Leaf Sage is a native herbaceous perennial in the Mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to the northern half of Alabama. Nettle Leaf Sage occurs in hardwood forest, on rocky slopes, and in glades, most often on basic or neutral soils. It is a clump forming perennial from a hardened rootstock. One to seven stems occur per clump and are 1 ½-2 feet tall. The stems are green in color, pubescent, and square. Leaves are opposite, petiolate with a winged petiole, ovate to rhombic in outline, with toothed or crenate margins. Flowers are produced in a terminal thyrse. The individual flowers occur in whorls of 3-7 along the naked flowering stem. Flowers have a calyx that is two-lipped. The upper lip of the calyx has 3 teeth and the lower lip has 2 teeth. The corolla is two-lipped, blue in color with two white spots on the lower lip. The fruit is a dark brown mericarp. Nettle Leaf Sage is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a rich, well-draining soil in full to partial sun. Large clumps can be divided in the fall and new plants can also be grown from seed.--A. Diamond

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Native

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