‘White’ is not often associated with ‘sage’, since so many sages are known for the rich shades of purple, blue and red of their flowers. Others have lavender, pale blue, pink, yellow or ‘almost’ orange flowers. Compared to these, the whorls of small, slightly blushed white flowers of white sage, Salvia apiana, are relatively unremarkable, even though they are held as high as a foot and a half above the shrubby foliage on elegantly slender flower spikes.

However, the evergreen silvery foliage of white sage is quite remarkable both visually and aromatically. It is so aromatic that some people may actually find it to be objectionable. Those who initially grow white sage as an herb or for use as incense later realize that it also becomes a prominent ornamental, particularly with dark green foliage, like junipers or arborvitaes, to contrast with its strikingly silvery color. Mature plants get taller and wider than three feet, with simple three inch long leaves. After spring bloom, flower spikes can be shorn off to promote fuller foliar density. I prefer to prune stems back more aggressively to promote more aromatic vigorous vegetative (non-blooming) growth. These vegetative stems become less aromatic as they too eventually bloom.