VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Salvia mellifera | Black Sage 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Black sage is generally considered of little importance to livestock or
big game [2].  Although domestic sheep and goats may browse plants to
some extent [47,57], deer seldom utilize black sage [16,27,35].  Rodents
make limited use of black sage browse [2,57].  On chaparral sites in
southern California, woodrats gather and store the leaves for
consumption during the winter [18].  Sage (Salvia ssp.) seeds are a
staple food of numerous birds and small mammals [57].  Birds which
utilize sage seeds include the Gambel's quail and scaled quail [47].


PALATABILITY : 
Black sage browse is largely unpalatable to most livestock and wildlife
due to its pungent odor and bitter taste [27].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
Black sage presumably provides nesting and hiding cover for numerous
birds and small mammals.


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Black sage is a suitable revegetation species because of its
drought-resistance, spreading habit, and rapid growth rate [6,16,45].
It is recommended for use in greenbelts and parkways, as well as in
areas where restoration of coastal sage scrub habitat is desired [45].
Seedling establishment is good when fresh seed is hand-broadcast or
hydroseeded in December to mid-February [16,45].  Horton [16] cautions
that seeds should not be soaked before sowing because soaking results in
a gelatinous mass of seeds.

In southern California, black sage is recommended for erosion control
plantings within coastal sage scrub communities [6,16].  Suitable sites
include sunny slopes with either shallow or deep soils at elevations
below 6,000 feet (1,830 m).  Survival of bareroot nursery stock was 44
percent when planted in soils 6 feet (1.8 m) deep at an elevation of
2,700 feet (823 m); survival of 2-year-old wild seedling transplants was
24 percent [16].  Established plants often reach full stature within 5
years [45].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Native Americans have used black sage for culinary purposes.  Seeds
were parched and ground into a meal used in baking.  Crushed leaves and
stems were used as a mint-flavored condiment [2,3].

Like many coastal sage scrub species, black sage is quite susceptible to
air pollution damage from sulfur dioxide and possibly ozone.
Consequently, it is an effective biological monitor of air pollution for
areas of southern California [53].  It is regarded as one of the best
honey plants along the Pacific Coast [57].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Black sage increases on heavily grazed sites [35].  It has become
dominant over small areas on Santa Cruz Island due to decades of severe
overgrazing by feral animals [35].

Related categories for Species: Salvia mellifera | Black Sage