Talk:Horticulture/Salvia

Selected species

 * Salvia apiana - White sage, California white sage.
 * Salvia argentea - Silver sage.
 * Salvia arizonica - Arizona sage, Desert indigo sage, a purple-flowering annual.
 * Salvia azurea - Blue sage, Azure blue sage; very big bright blue flowers.
 * Salvia candelabrum - a blue-flowering scented sage.
 * Salvia carnosa - a blue-flowering annual, native to the Arizona desert.
 * Salvia clevelandii - Blue sage, Cleveland sage, Fragrant sage.
 * Salvia coccinea - Blood sage, a scarlet-flowered tender perennial
 * Salvia columbariae - Chia, Chia sage, California chia.
 * Salvia divinorum - Diviner's sage.
 * Salvia farinacea - Mealycup sage, annual in temperate climates will survive mild winters
 * Salvia fulgens - Cardinal sage, Mexican red sage, a red-flowering perennial
 * Salvia glutinosa
 * Salvia greggii - Autumn sage, a red-flowered sage with a very strong scent
 * Salvia guaranitica - Anise sage or hummingbird sage.
 * Salvia hispanica - the Chia of commerce.
 * Salvia leucophylla - Purple sage.
 * Salvia lyrata - Lyre-leaved sage, Lyreleaf sage.
 * Salvia officinalis - Common sage.
 * Salvia patens - a blue-flowering annual.
 * Salvia polystachya - Chia sage, Chia seed.
 * Salvia potus - Chia.
 * Salvia pratensis - Meadow clary or Meadow sage.
 * Salvia roemeriana - Cedar Sage; this species prefers shady moist areas
 * Salvia sclarea - Clary or Clary sage.
 * Salvia spathacea - Pitcher sage or Hummingbird sage.
 * Salvia splendens - Scarlet sage.
 * Salvia verticillata - Whorled clary, Lilac sage, a white- or blue-flowering perennial with the scent of Clary
 * Salvia viridis (syn.: S. horminum) - Painted sage.

Medicinal uses
Several types of Salvia are used medicinally:
 * aromatic varieties (usually strongly scented leaves, also used as herbs)
 * non-aromatic varieties (not considered medicinal, but many still have a scent)
 * Chia sages
 * Divinorum (Diviner's sage) contains a diterpenoid used for spiritual and recreational purposes.
 * Alzhiemer's disease, research has shown that it improves cognitive function over a period of several months.

The aromatic sages strengthen the lungs and can be used in teas or tinctures to prevent coughs. Less aromatic species of Salvia are run-of-the-mill mint-family anti-inflammatories, which means that they can be used for pretty much any infection or inflammation, and will give at least some relief.

Common sage (../Salvia officinalis/) drunk as a cold tea will stop sweating, while the same tea drunk hot will produce sweating. Cold and hot teas will also either stop or enhance milk production. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy and medicine.

White sage (Salvia apiana) is a very strong general anti-inflammatory, used as tea or tincture. The tincture has a very nice scent and can be used as a perfume. This species is the famous whitesage of smudge sticks.

Pineapple sage (Salvia elegans, old: S. rutilans) is a tender perennial with pineapple-scented leaves. Medicinally, this is perhaps closest to the scented geraniums, a sweet-smelling Pelargonium species.

Red sage (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is used medicinally in Traditional Chinese medicine.

Chia sages. The seeds of these species are used as bulk laxatives, much like the seeds of Psyllium (Plantago spp.) or linseed. Chia has been important in the diet of desert Indians. It is still used for its mucilaginous qualities by Mexican natives.

Diviner's sage (Salvia divinorum) also called Yerba de la Pastora or sometimes just Salvia, is a plant that differs from all the other sages. It is a Mexican visionary herb and there is some evidence it is a true cultivar. It is known to have strong psychoactive properties.