Spanish sage
Salvia lavandulifolia
Family · Lamiaceae · Harmless
The wild sage of inland limestone, with a narrow grey leaf like a lavender's, and a strong sage smell with a camphor edge. It is the base of the sage infusion drunk across half of Spain.
Scrubland · Uplands · Walls and rocks
Also known asnarrow-leaved sage
How to tell it
Narrow, whitish-grey, deeply wrinkled leaves with the texture of fine sandpaper. Blue-violet flowers in whorls along a short stem. An unmistakable sage smell when rubbed.
What it is confused with
Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Same genus since rosemary moved into Salvia. Rosemary's leaf is needle-like, stiff and smooth; Spanish sage's is broad, wrinkled and downy. And the smell is clearly different.
Open sheet →What it is for
A traditional infusion and seasoning, and an essential oil used in perfumery. A note that stays on the sheet: like all thujone-rich sages, it is not for sustained consumption or in pregnancy.
Traditionally used as food. This is not permission to eat it.
With documented traditional uses. Not a therapeutic indication and not a dose.