Stem

1-3 ft. tall, highly branched and densely covered with hairs

Photo of mediterranean sage in front of a wooden fence

Leaves

Gray-green; densely covered with white hairs, particularly on new leaves and underside of older leaves; wider at base (triangle-shaped); 2-12 in. long; edges (margins) with rounded, irregular teeth; leaves have an aroma when crushed
Lower leaves have leaf stems (petioles); upper leaves are smaller and lack leaf stems

Flower

Yellow to white, 0.5 in. wide, arranged in clusters of 5-10, ; 2 lips, the upper lip is arch- or hook-shaped, the lower lip is smaller and has 3 lobes
4 nutlets produced per flower, 0.16 in. long

Root

Stout, deep taproot

Other

Often infests rangeland, roadsides and waste areas; not known to occur in Nevada
Biennial; reproduces by seed; dried plants detach and tumble, which disperses seeds.
Also known as African sage

Photo of a field of mediterranean sage with white flowers

Control

Hand removal of individual plants, including the crown, can limit spread of small infestations
An insect biological control agent is available
Apply 2,4-D, chlorsulfuron, clopyralid, dicamba, glyphosate, or metsulfuron to actively growing plants prior to seed production; aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid, or picloram pre- or post emergence

Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Mediterranean sage, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Extension Associated Contacts

Heidi Kratsch

Also of Interest:


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Associated Programs

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Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Mediterranean sage