What's this plant?: Desert sage maybe, any idea on type?

Replies: 13 Views: 138

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leeannconner
Las Vegas, NV
(Zone 8a)

November 18, 2008 7:35 PM

Is this some kind of desert sage? It is found in Las Vegas, Nevada area? any suggestions? it has a strong sage smell to it.

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Metrosideros
Keaau, HI

November 19, 2008 1:56 PM

Maybe in the Mint Family. The seed spikes don't look typical of a Salvia.

KSBaptisia
Beatrice, NE
(Zone 5b)

November 19, 2008 2:36 PM

Can't see the leaves clearly enough to be sure, but seedheads look like those of Salvia dorrii or possibly Salvia pachyphylla. Both species are commonly called Desert Sage or Purple Sage.

frostweed
Arlington, TX
(Zone 8a)

November 19, 2008 3:17 PM

It could be Apache Plume, check this out;
[HYPERLINK@wildflower.org]
Josephine.

plantladylin
East Central, FL
(Zone 9a)

November 19, 2008 3:29 PM

I agree with KSBaptisia that it could possibly be Salvia dorrii: [HYPERLINK@www.laspilitas.com] [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]

or Salvia pachyphylla: [HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]

There sure are some lovely native California sages: [HYPERLINK@www.laspilitas.com]

Metrosideros
Keaau, HI

November 19, 2008 3:56 PM

Aren't the leaves of Leeann's plant more lance-shaped, and the seed spikes shorter, than Salvia dorrii and S. pachyphylla?

Danita
Cobb County, GA
(Zone 7b)

November 19, 2008 3:59 PM

It looks a lot like my Lavandula stoechas when it's in seed.

KSBaptisia
Beatrice, NE
(Zone 5b)

November 19, 2008 6:45 PM

Quoted:

Aren't the leaves of Leeann's plant more lance-shaped, and the seed spikes shorter, than Salvia dorrii and S. pachyphylla?

Like I said, leaves aren't clear enough to be sure. But the seed heads look exactly like the ones on an S. pachyphylla plant I can see through my window, except they seem to be somewhat smaller which could be a result of the harsh conditions of the Mojave Desert or because the plant is S. dorrii, a generally similar but smaller-flowered species.

leeannconner
Las Vegas, NV
(Zone 8a)

November 21, 2008 5:08 PM

thank you so much everyone....
i am thinking it is a Lavandula stoechas.
I will be looking more into this...
Certainly smells like lavender....

ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)

November 21, 2008 9:33 PM

Was it found in a wild area or a cultivated one? If it's in a wild area I think it's very unlikely to be any sort of lavender.

Danita
Cobb County, GA
(Zone 7b)

November 21, 2008 9:51 PM

Lavandula stoechas is not native but is an introduced species that grows wild in CA according to the USDA.
See link below:
[HYPERLINK@plants.usda.gov]

ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)

November 21, 2008 10:03 PM

It's definitely not widespread here (and note that they don't list it as occurring at all in Nevada). If you click on California on that map to see the detail, there are only a couple counties in which it shows up, and the counties that it is found in are not near the NV border, so I still maintain that if this was found in a wild area near Las Vegas it's very unlikely to be lavender.

Danita
Cobb County, GA
(Zone 7b)

November 21, 2008 10:10 PM

Sorry, I just saw the CA under her DG name and forgot she mentioned it being in NV.
It does look very similar to the Lavandula stoechas, but I live on the other side of the country so I certainly can't attest to what grows in your area. Just trying to help with ideas.

leeannconner
Las Vegas, NV
(Zone 8a)

November 22, 2008 12:06 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies.

It is a cultivated plant, not native.

i am pretty sure now that its Lavandula stoechas . :-)

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