Chia, California Sage
Salvia columbariae
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Details & Attributes
| Plant Type(s) | Annual |
| Native to Arizona | Yes! |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Pollinators | Bees, butterflies |
| Has Spines | No |
| Size In relative feet, width by height |
6"-1'-4-8" |
| Flowering Season | March-July |
| Flower Color | Purple |
| Minimum Temperature Range | 20-25 °F |
| Leaf Description | Mostly at base of plant, lobed and rough to the touch with a slight sagey fragrance. |
| Fruit | Small brown-black seeds in a spiky whorl of capsules |
| View on SEINet | View SEINet Entry |
| Range Map | View SEINet Range Map |
| Description | Chia is another low desert annual commonly found in western Arizona, and more or less reaching its eastern extent in the area around Tucson. From patches of rough basal leaves, chia sends up tall square-stemmed flower stalks topped with whorls of purple blooms which give way to spiky seedheads. The flowers attract native bees, and the seeds are a nutritious food source; the chia found in stores Is a related species (Salvia hispanica). This plant reliably germinates from seed broadcast into gardens if moisture is provided, and it can be counted on to reseed. |
