White Sage is an excellent landscape plant, providing coarse texture and white spring-summer flowers for a dry garden. It is also a great bee plant, as indicated by the species name "apiana," which means "bee."
For Chumash and other native California tribes, White Sage was and is used as a purifying incense at ceremonies and gatherings. The young branch tips are dried slowly, with the leaves periodically pressed with the fingers to make them lie flat on the stem. After thorough drying, the tip of the bundle can be lit. Once it has burned for a few moments, the flame is extinguished, and the smoldering leaves produce a thick, aromatic smoke. Inhaling the smoke and allowing it to waft over the body is thought to promote spiritual balance and harmony.
Growth Form: 3-9’ high, 3-4’ wide
Light: full sun, exposed slopes - partial shade
Water: drought tolerant once established
Soil: thrives in well-drained, sandy or rocky soils.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9-10, Sunset Zones 7-24
Type: Perennial, semi -deciduous in summer If not watered
No fertilizer is required but an annual light feeding Is beneficial.