Names: Salvia africana-caerule - L., Afrikaansesalie, blousalie, bloublomsalie, blue African sage, purple sage, wild sage, wildesalie. "Salvia" comes from the Latin, "salvere", meaning to save or heal. "Caerulea" means blue.
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: Salvia africana(-caerule)

Salvia africana is a perennial, much-branched, aromatic shrub with medicinal properties. It grows up to 100 cm tall.

Flowers: are produced from midwinter to midsummer, peaking in spring to early summer.

Fruit: consists of 4, 1-seeded, small, round nutlets that are formed at the base of the flower, inside the calyx. They remain attached at the base of the calyx after the flower drops, falling out when mature.

Foliage: The leaves are greenish on the upper surface, covered with grey hairs and dotted with glands on the lower surface, sometimes toothed.They release a strong, pleasant scent when brushed or rubbed.

Water: The house plant should be watered weekly during the growing season. Take care to provide well-drained soil and plenty of drainage holes in the container to avoid root rot. Cut back to monthly watering during the cooler months. It is better to give too little water than too much.

Propagation:

• Seeds.
  Salvia africana is pollinated by bees and the flower is adapted to assist in pollination. The bottom petal is a platform for the bee to land on. As it probes for nectar, it presses against the ‘pedal’, which causes the hinged anthers to move down and deposit pollen on the back of the bee, while the curved stigma collects pollen that it has already picked up from other flowers it visited previously. The hooded upper petal protects the anthers, e.g. from rain and dew. When the seeds are ripe, the calyx is dry, papery and light, assisting in the dispersal of the seeds by being easily blown about by the wind.
    Seed can be sown in autumn or spring to early summer. Use well-drained soil and keep moist. As soon as the seedlings are strong enough to handle, transfer them to a single pot. After a few more weeks they are ready for planting into the garden. The seedlings respond well to organic fertilizer and pinching the tips will encourage bushy, vigorous growth and more flowers.
• The cuttings root easily.
  They give the better results than the seeds. Take cuttings from new growth near the base of the plant taken in spring or early summer. The cuttings should be at least 10cm long and should be left to dry for at least 24 hours before planting. The cuttings will take 3 to 4 weeks before you can notice that they have started growing. Give them a little water 1x per week. The newly rooted plants respond well to regular feeding with anorganic fertilizer.

• A decorative garden or balcony pot plant.
• Low maintenance.
• It can grow in a wide variety of habitats.
  It is native to the coast of the Cape Provinces of South Africa; from Namaqualand in the Northern Cape to the Cape Peninsula and Caledon in the Western Cape. It grows in fynbos. It grows on coastal dunes, sandy slopes and in rocky hills up to 600 m elevation. pH: Acid.
• It can tolerate frost (-1 to -5 Celsius) and grows well on the Highveld.
• It can tolerate drought.
• It requires a sunny position.
• Plants are tolerant of trimming. Prune after flowering to keep it neat and vigorous and it will bloom nearly all year round.
• Suitable for growing in containers.
• They are fairly pest resistant, including red mites and white wooly lice.
• Weed potential: None

Uses

• Medicinal
  To treat colds, flu, chest ailments, painful or excessive menstruation, gargle for sore throats and night coughing, use Margaret Roberts recipe for sage tea: pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of fresh leaves, allow to draw for 5 minutes, sweeten with honey and add a slice of lemon for taste. Drink half a cup 4x per day.
    To treat stomach troubles (colic, diarrhoea, flatulence, heartburn, gripes and indigestion), mix the tea with a pinch of Epsom salts and lemon juice.
    To treat fevers and measles, mix the tea with that of Ballota africana (kattekruie).
    This tea can also be used externally as a mildly antiseptic wash.
    This tea can also be used help cows with the expulsion of the placenta, after calving.
    Salvia africana can be used instead of Salvia officinalis (sage).
• To flavour food

• Its stemmings break off very easily.
• Plants are not resistant to fire.

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This page has been updated on the 2021-08-22.