Family:  Mint (Lamiacea)

Hardy to Zones 7 to 12, otherwise grown as a potted plant and protected from frost

(Sacred White Sage) Woody perennial native to California.  The leafy shrub usually grows to 2 or 3 feet tall, flowering light blue to a height of 6 feet on multiple upright racemes.   The beautiful white foliage of this indigenous plant sets off the silver-blue flowering spikes. Foliage is light green to white when the plant is young, and turns very white as the plant matures, and especially after drying the leaves. This is the most highly valued and revered of all North American Sages, burned ceremonially to cleanse the environment.  Probably the most popular of all plants for smudging, the leaves dry down almost white and burn with an intense smoke.  The smoke purifies the surroundings–it is good to smudge the home, the sickroom (it kills germs!) or to smudge after intense human  interactions.  Used before, during and after prayer sessions.   The characteristic fragrance of this plant is sweet and penetrating. Source of bactericidal 1-8 Cineole and Ursolic acid.  Hypotensive and antifungal.  Neuroactive compounds attach to opioid and cannabinoid receptors to calm the mind and open pathway to spirit.  Concerned about wild harvest of this precious plant?  Grow your own!  Cultivation and harvest:  White sage prefers sandy soil in the full sun. Plants grow quickly during the summer and may be trimmed back in the fall, after flowering is complete. Scarify seeds on fine grit sandpaper, sow seeds in very sandy soil, barely cover, tamp well, keep warm and in strong light and water only once daily until germination. Our seed is from northern-hardy individuals and is a vigorous germinator–normal germ time 14 days in warm and light conditions. Winter survivability improves when the plant is surrounded by a deep mulch of sand at the crown–this keeps the crown warmer and drier. Winter survival also encouraged by planting in a Quonset-style greenhouse (open-ended) to protect the plants from rain and snow, or on the south side of a building, where the plant gets reflected light and protection from rain.  Space plants 2 to 3 feet apart. Cut the leafy wands in the fall, semi-dry them, then tie into bundles for use during the winter.

Packet contains 100 seeds
1 g contains ~600 seeds
5 g contains ~3,000 seeds
10 g contains ~6,000 seeds

Certified Organically Grown