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

Learn more about the author(s)

Gary McCuin

Barry Perryman

Brad Schultz

Sherman Swanson

Also of Interest:


A Change in the Ecological Understanding of Rangelands in the Great Basin and Intermountain West and Implications for Management: Revisiting Mack and Thompson (1982) Perryman, P., Schultz, B., Meiman, P. 2021, Rangeland Ecology & Management Vol 76, Pages 1-11
Historical Fire and Ventenata dubia Invasion in a Temperate Grassland Ventenata is an invasive annual grass that has rapidly expanded its range across temperate grassland and shrub-steppe ecosystems in western North America. Luke W. Ridder, JoAnna M.Perrena, Lesley R.Morris, Bryan A.Endress, Robert V.Taylord, Bridgett J.Naylore 2021, Rangeland Ecology & Management, Vol 75, March 2021, Pg. 35-40
Strategies for Grazing Management Informational publication on various strategies for grazing management, such as targeted grazing, for fuel management, or with multiple grazing species. Swanson, S., Voth, D. 2019, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, IP-19-02
Up in smoke: University ecologists help firefighters protect Nevada's lands Fires unleash devastating losses on Nevada ranches, grazing areas, and habitat. Each leaves Nevada lands more vulnerable to future fires. Knowing how to care for Nevada's land before and after disturbances is key to reducing wildland fire risk and repairing lands post-fire. This ... Andrews, A. 2019, Nevada Today
Nevada Rangeland Monitoring Handbook (3rd) - Introduction This report was designed to provide a clear overview of the complex and often confusing world of rangeland monitoring. Included are a suite of short- and long-term monitoring methods. Swanson, S., Schultz, B., Novak-Echenique, P., Dyer, K., McCuin, G., Linebaugh, J., Perryman, P., Tueller, P., Jenkins, R., Scherrer, B., Vogel, T., Voth, D., Freese, M., Shane, R., McGowan, K. 2018, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, SP-18-03

Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – Mediterranean sage