Usually available: All year

Life cycle: Perennial
Height: 1.2 - 1.5m
Position: Sun / part shade
Soil preference: Well drained

This is how we pack and send your Herb Plants to all states except TAS & WA

You will receive
- 1 Salvia Somalensis Herb Plant in a 50 X 75mm tube - General growing instructions

All of our Herb Plants are grown organically with certified organic potting mixes and fertilizers

Botanical Name: Salvia somalensis

Salvia somalensis is a tall, perennial shrub growing from 1.2 to 1.5 meters, with a spread of 90cm to 1.5m. It has many stems and can be ‘rangy’, but the leaves offer a graceful backdrop to any garden border. The long, lime green leaves have a clear central vein and are an oblong shape with a rugose, or textured appearance. They are about 10cm long, 2.5 cm wide and arch or curl back gracefully, giving the whole plant a characteristic graceful appearance. When crushed the leaves give off a sticky residue and a menthol fragrance.

The powder or ‘wisteria blue’ flowers are quite large, with a white splash in the centre. Appearing from summer to autumn, they grow in tight whorls of many flowers or inflorescences at the end of the stems. However, this salvia may also have flowers growing on ‘branchlets’ between the stems, as well as the terminal spikes.

Somalian Mountain Sage is endemic to a very limited range and an elevation of 1200-2100 meters above sea level. For non-metric readers that is 5000 to 7000 feet, which sounds very high! Usually this wild sage grows in natural forest clearings or at the forest edge, where it is able to access more sunlight. Where conditions are suitable, it becomes a common to dominant sub shrub in the area, but is still quite rare given forest clearing activity.

Some research has been undertaken into the suitability of this plant’s essential oils for use in cosmetics. It appears that the unique fragrance, described as ‘peculiar olfactory characteristics’, may be particularly useful for men’s perfumes and body detergents. Research is ongoing but the essential oils are deemed to meet safety requirements for contact with human skin.

This unique plant may be found under the name Salvia somalensis Vatke, Somalian Mountain Sage, Somalian Sage or simply the botanical name. Note that even though the plant is named after Somalia, the species name is written with lowercase letters as is appropriate for botanical names. The seed from this plant was first collected in 1973, by the Huntington Botanical Gardens of San Marino in California.

Growing Conditions

Somalian Mountain Sage loves a full sun or part shade position, and will thrive under normal garden conditions. It is a drought and frost tolerant plant but does benefit from summer watering and some root protection. A range of soil types are tolerated as long as it is free draining.

The salvia family has over 900 members with an extensive history as culinary, medicinal and ornamental plants. Ornamental salvias have become collectors items, as gardeners try to find a place in their garden for each and every one. There are salvias that will suit every type of soil and climate. More information on the Salvia genus and Common Sage (Salvia officinalis) may be found on our Common Sage page.

All information provided on this website is for informational purposes only. Please seek professional advice before commencing any treatment.