Salvia urticifolia (SAL-vee-uh ur-TISS-i-fo-lee-ah)
Family: LamiaceaeNativeHerbaceous (1-3 ft)
Herbaceous (1-3 ft)Native
Nettleleaf sage is an herbaceous perennial in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to the southeastern United States, including parts of North Carolina. In its native environment, it is found along dry woodland edges, open woods and on outcroppings. The species epithet is a compound of the genus name for nettle ( Urtica ) and the Latin word for leaf (- folia ). Nettleleaf sage prefers dry soil with a high pH (neutral to alkaline but not acidic) and partial shade. Once established, nettleleaf sage is drought-tolerant. Although difficult to find commercially, nettleleaf sage is easy to grow and bears small but attractive purple-to-blue flowers in April–June. The flowers attract pollinators. The leaves are fragrant when crushed and can be used in a potpourri. Native bees nest in the dead, hollow stems, so gardeners are encouraged to cut back dead stems to 12 to 24 inches and allow them to remain standing until they disintegrate on their own. Read more about best practices for stem-nesting bees in this NC Extension publication . Use this plant in borders or groups in woodland gardens, children's gardens or native and pollinator gardens. It can also be grown in containers with good drainage. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. More information on Salvia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 10 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are wedge-shaped at the base with entire margins. It tapers to wings and is coarsely toothed at the tip. It is 3 inches long and 2 inches wide.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The sticky flowers are clustered in tiers on the erect inflorescence. The lower lip has 3 lobes which extend like a tongue and have prominent white marks. It blooms April, May and June.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
The schizocarp has four lobes that separate to yield four single-seeded nutlets.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
The slippery hairy square stems rise from a thick rhizome and may be woody at the base.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
SE USA
Distribution
AL , DC , FL , GA , KY , MD , MS , NC , PA , SC , TN , VA
Wildlife value
Attracts pollinators. Dead stems are used by stem-nesting bees.
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Colorful; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Schizocarp
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area; Slope/Bank; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Garden for the Blind; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Shade Garden