Shrubby blue sage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrubby blue sage |
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Salvia ballotaeflora |
Shrubby blue sage, also known as Salvia ballotiflora, is a beautiful flowering plant. It belongs to the mint family, which scientists call Lamiaceae. You can find this plant growing naturally in Texas in the United States, and also in parts of northeastern and central Mexico. Another common name for it is mejorana.
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What Does Shrubby Blue Sage Look Like?
Shrubby blue sage is a type of shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree. It usually grows to be about 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 6 feet) tall. The plant spreads out to about half its height.
Its leaves are shaped like an oval, which is called ovate. They are about 1.5 to 3.8 centimeters (0.6 to 1.5 inches) long. The edges of the leaves can be saw-toothed (serrated) or slightly wavy. If you touch the leaves, they might feel a bit rough. This is because they have tiny hairs called trichomes on both their top and bottom surfaces.
This plant produces many light blue to purple flowers. Each flower is quite small, less than 1.3 centimeters (0.5 inches) long. You can see these pretty flowers blooming for a long time, usually from April all the way through October.
Where Does Shrubby Blue Sage Grow?
You can find Salvia ballotiflora in specific areas. In Texas, it grows in places like the Edwards Plateau and the Tamaulipan mezquital region in the southern and western parts of the state.
In Mexico, this plant is found in several states, including Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, and Zacatecas. Shrubby blue sage likes to grow in soils that are alkaline. This means the soil has a higher pH level. It especially likes the soil found in limestone canyons.
How Is Shrubby Blue Sage Used?
People use the leaves of shrubby blue sage in a few ways. Sometimes, the leaves are used to add flavor to different foods.
This plant is also grown as an ornamental plant. This means people plant it in gardens because its colorful flowers make their yards look pretty.
See also
In Spanish: Salvia ballotiflora para niños
