White Sage

Salvia apiana, the Californian white sage, bee sage or sacred sage, is an evergreen perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, found mainly in the coastal sage scrub of Southern California and Baja California. Its whitish leaves are covered in hairs that trigger oil glands, so rubbing them releases a strong aroma. The flowers are white to pale lavender and attract bees. Native American peoples of the Pacific coast use it widely: the Cahuilla harvest the seed, the Chumash eat the leaves and stems, and several cultures use different parts in ritual purification. It is over-harvested to sell commercially for smudging, and illegal harvest is occurring on public lands. Many Native Americans have asked non-Natives to refrain from using white sage.