Baby Sage - "Hot Lips"

Through our new virtual programming series, Nature in your Neighborhood, we challenged volunteers to go out into their neighborhoods or backyards to see what plants sparked their interest. Whether plants are native or non native, we can all appreciate a connection to nature and the curiosity that it can spark!

By: Molly Wixon

This baby sage was nicknamed “Hot Lips” due to its white and red colored petals. It was brought to the SF botanical garden in 1999 by Dick Turner after being seen in Mexico. It is native to Mexico and Arizona. This shrub is tolerant to heat, drought, and a bit of salt. The salvia microphylla leaves can be used fresh or dried to make an herbal tea that is known as mirot de montes. The flowers and leaves can also be infused and used to reduce fevers and treat coughs. It is grown in Mexico and used to make this medicinal tea. This plant attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds especially due to its fragrance of blackcurrant.