Pronounced (approximate): SAL-vee-ah a-ZOO-ree-ah
Pale blue, two-lipped flowers grow along upright spikes. Narrow opposite leaves line square stems.
Blue Sage (Salvia azurea): flowering stem in prairie. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Lamiaceae
Life cycle Perennial wildflower
Blooms Summer–fall
Height 3–5 feet
Habitat Prairies, open meadows, and sunny rocky or sandy ground
Other common names
Pitcher Sage · Azure Blue Sage · Wild Blue Sage
Bloom timing and height vary by region. Native status refers to North America; see the range notes below.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
Prairies, open meadows, and sunny rocky or sandy ground. Flowering season: summer–fall.
Also called Pitcher Sage or Azure Blue Sage. Keep standing hollow stems where practical; they can provide nesting sites for small bees.
Pale blue, two-lipped flowers grow along upright spikes.
Narrow opposite leaves line square stems. The broad lower lip forms a landing platform for visiting bees.
Look in prairies, open meadows, and sunny rocky or sandy ground. Include a whole-plant view alongside closeups when studying this species.
12 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native mainly to the central and southern United States; also recorded as introduced farther north, including Wisconsin.
Documented in these U.S. states
AL, AZ, AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, NE, NM, OK, SC, TN, TX, CT, MA, NH, NY, WI
State list includes reported native and introduced occurrence; it does not mean the plant is native in every listed state.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Blue Sage in the quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.