Author: Alex Thompson

Salvia: Extent of use, effects, and risks

what is salvia

Many species are used as herbs, as ornamental plants (usually for flower interest), and sometimes for their ornamental and aromatic foliage. Some species, such as Salvia columbariae and Salvia hispanica, are also grown for their seeds. The Plant List has 986 accepted species names.[19] A selection of some well-known species is below. Native herbs provide all the benefits of their ornamental and domesticated counterparts without high-maintenance attitudes. When you can match the conditions to their native habitats, these fragrant flowering plants flourish with little to no attention. Better yet, they provide abundant pollen and nectar for local pollinators, and plenty of flavor for your kitchen.

You may see slime or white sludgy streaks on your plant’s stems or leaves. Salvia is not a heavy feeder, meaning it does not require much fertilizer. If you amend your soil with compost or some other form of organic matter upon planting, this will suffice as food for the first season. The seasons following should be met with at least one fertilization a season.

It tends to grow best in south facing areas as these areas tend to receive the most sunlight. Before planting in my yard, I like to observe which areas receive sun at certain parts of the day to find the best location for my plants. If you’re smoking dried leaves, a dose of 1/4 gram to 1 gram is considered safe for consumption. While salvia is legal in some states, it’s still a powerful drug with real effects and possible risks.

what is salvia

Salvia, (genus Salvia), genus of about 960 species of herbaceous and woody plants of the mint family (Lamiaceae). The genus is distributed throughout Eurasia and the Americas and is especially diverse in Central America and in the Mediterranean region. Some members are important as sources of flavouring, and many are grown as garden ornamentals. Chia (Salvia hispanica) is cultivated commercially for its edible seeds. Salvia nemorosa is an herbaceous perennial that forms 1-3’ clumps of dark green to grayish foliage. It has a generous bloom season that usually begins in early summer and ends in late fall.

Salvia: What are the effects?

If you are curious about salvia, be sure to understand your state’s laws before you seek it out. Additionally, talk with your doctor if you try salvia and experience issues or side effects. If you are growing the plant or have salvia in your home, consider this a drug to be kept from children and pets. If you choose to chew fresh salvia leaves, one dose of about five leaves is considered safe.

Spent blooms can be removed, and fresh blooms can be harvested as cut flowers. This rotting plant tissue will move throughout the root system, making its way towards the base of the stem. Salvia sylvestris ‘Caradonna’ tends to have a taller growth habit, and the foliage grows right up to the beginning of the flower stalks. Caradonna displays long, slender, purple flowers that tend to be one of the tallest blooms.

  1. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
  2. For this reason, it is not appropriate to consider it a safe drug.
  3. In the video, the then-18-year-old singer and actress was filmed smoking salvia in a water bong.

Salvia is considered perennial in USDA zones 4 – 8 and thrives in warm weather. There are many varieties and all provide strikingly vivid flowers that can tolerate drought, heat, and require minimal maintenance once established. Salvia, commonly referred to as woodland sage, violet sage, or balkan clary, is an herbaceous perennial that is in the Lamiaceae family.

Is salvia safe to ingest?

If you find these little tiny pests on your Salvia plants, apply an insecticidal soap to the affected areas. A common plant disease, powdery mildew is a grayish white powdery substance that forms on the tops of leaves. It is usually seen in warm, wet conditions where the leaves do not have a chance to dry out. Salvia has many different uses, depending on the species you add to your garden.

what is salvia

Salvia (SAL-vee-uh) is an herb that’s native to the mountains of southern Mexico. One type, salvia divinorum, has a substance called salvinorin A that can cause intense psychedelic experiences. Aphids are small light green insects that are usually seen on the undersides of leaves and stems of new growth.

Tips for Herb Gardening in Small Spaces

However, the possible issues are serious and worth consideration. These effects may occur rapidly, within just 5 to 10 minutes of smoking or inhaling the drug. For example, you shouldn’t consume the drug and then attempt to drive or operate a vehicle or machinery. To date, there are no known hangover effects for salvia use once it has worn off.

It’s thought that this ingredient attaches to the nerve cells in your body to create a variety of hallucinogenic effects. The herb usually isn’t used in rolled cigarettes, or joints, because the dried leaves may not be potent enough to create any effect. Because of the way the active ingredient affects the brain, some scientists believe salvia could have implications for developing a therapy, for example, for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

End of Season Maintenance

They may be frightening, depending on how strong a dose of the drug someone takes. Salvia is fairly disease resistant, but there are still a number of diseases that they can encounter, depending on the species you’ve decided to plant. Let’s take a look at some of the more common diseases you’ll encounter. These will all aid in breaking up the heavy clay and allow more air and water flow into your soil.

It’s native to southern Mexico and parts of Central and South America. There, it has been used in traditional ceremonies by the Mazatec Indians for centuries. Salvia, or Salvia divinorum, is an herbal mint plant and a naturally occurring hallucinogen that is native to Mexico. In Britain, sage has for generations been listed as one of the essential herbs, along with parsley, rosemary, and thyme (as in the folk song “Scarborough Fair”). In Italian cuisine, it is an essential condiment for saltimbocca and other dishes, favored with fish.

Depending on the variety, plants can be 18 inches to 5 feet tall, but many are suitable for containers, too. Salvia species include annual, biennial, or perennial herbaceous plants, along with woody subshrubs. The stems are typically angled like other members in Lamiaceae. The leaves are typically entire, but sometimes toothed or pinnately divided. The flowering stems bear small bracts, dissimilar to the basal leaves—in some species the bracts are ornamental and showy. Salvia can be a great addition to any landscape border or cottage garden, and can even thrive in a patio planter!