Invasive Species: Salvia aethiopis, Mediterranean Sage
Mediterranean sage is an invasive biennial plant with square stems reaching up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) tall. Fine, woolly hairs cover the stems, new leaves, and leaf undersides. Mature plants become less hairy and develop prominent venation on the leaves. Rosette leaves are grayish-green, petiolate, and 4 to 12 in. (10.2 to 30.5 cm) long. Rosettes can be 1 to 4 ft. (0.3 to 1.2 m) in diameter. The stem leaves are opposite, smaller than the rosette leaves, and aromatic (sage-like) when crushed. Leaves become smaller toward the apex of the stem. Flowering stems are highly branched and develop in June to August. The flowers are yellow to whitish and bilabiate. Four smooth nutlets with dark veins develop from each flower. Mature plants break off and become tumbleweeds, easily spreading as many as 100,000 seeds each. The plant is typically found in degraded sagebrush communities, disturbed sites, fields, rangelands, roadsides, and some agronomic crops. Mediterranean sage is a state-listed noxious weed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The plant is native to Europe and may have been introduced in contaminated alfalfa seed.
What are invasive species and why should we be concerned about them?
Taxonomy: Scientific and Common Names for This Species
Lamiales > Lamiaceae > Salvia aethiopis L.
Synonym(s): African sage
Salvia aethiopis – USDA PLANTS Profile
Distribution Maps
Mediterranean sage – The reported distribution of this invasive species across the United States (Source: Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States)
Up-to-the-minute distribution maps and why they are important
Reporting This Invasive Species
What is the best way and place to report the occurrence of an invasive species?
How to report an invasive species sighting to EDDMapS – Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System
EDDMapS – Report an invasive species to EDDMapS.
Coperative Extension Offices – Find your local Cooperative Extension office on this map provided by USDA.
How to Identify
This invasive species can be identified by looking for the characteristics described in the paragraphs that follow.
Plant
Mediterranean sage is a biennial plant with square stems reaching up to 3 ft. (0.9 m) tall. Fine, woolly hairs cover the stems, new leaves, and leaf undersides. Mature plants become less hairy and develop prominent venation on the leaves.
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| Vince Belleci, bugwood.org | Todd Pfeiffer, Klamath County Weed Control, bugwood.org |
Foliage
Rosette leaves are grayish-green, petiolate, and 4 to 12 in. (10.2 to 30.5 cm) long. Rosettes can be 1 to 4 ft. (0.3 to 1.2 m) in diameter. The stem leaves are opposite, smaller than the rosette leaves, and aromatic (sage-like) when crushed. Leaves become smaller toward the apex of the stem.
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| Lloyd Andres, USDA Agricultural research Service, bugwood.org | L.L. Berry, bugwood.org |
Flower
Flowering stems are highly branched and develop in June to August. The flowers are yellow to whitish and bilabiate.
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| Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, bugwood.org | Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, bugwood.org |
Fruit
Four smooth nutlets with dark veins develop from each flower. Mature plants break off and become tumbleweeds, easily spreading as many as 100,000 seeds each.
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| Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, bugwood.org | bugwood.org |
Native Species That Can Resemble Mediterranean Sage
– Images at invasive.org
| bugwood.org | bugwood.org |
– Images at invasive.org
| bugwood.org | bugwood.org |
Additional Images for Mediterranean Sage
Mediterranean sage – Images at Invasive.org
Additional Information, Biology, Control and Management Resources
Control and management recommendations vary according to individual circumstances. Location, habitat, weather, and a variety of other conditions are factors that help determine the best treatment choice. To find the safest and most effective treatment for your situation, consult your state’s land-grant institution. If you will use chemicals as part of the control process, always refer to the product label.
United States Land-Grant University System – Find your land-grant university’s college of agriculture, Cooperative Extension office, or other related partner on this map provided by USDA.
Fact Sheet – Colorado Department of Agriculture
Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas – Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign
Encycloweedia: Data Sheets – California Department of Food and Agriculture
Invasive Species Compendium (Beta) – cabi.org
Profiles: Noxious Weeds – Oregon Department of Agriculture, ODA Plant Division