Fineleaf Sage

Salvia stenophylla is a many-branched and upright shrub that reaches up to 2 feet (0.61 m) tall and wide in the wild, less in cultivation. The stems are square and lightly covered with hairs. The leaves are long and narrow with deep lobes. They have a strong fragrance and are rough to the touch. The sparsely spaced leaves are pinnatid, growing up to 2 inches (5.1 cm) long and 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide, with ten pairs of narrow segments that have glands. These glands give off a wood-like aroma when brushed. The stem and leaves contain the essential oils. The tiny pale blue flowers appear during the summer months. They grow in whorls of six to eight, and are held in a calyx that is hairy and covered with oil glands.

The leaves of Blue Mountain sage can be made into a tea and used to soothe digestive problems, colds, coughs, chest congestion, and relieve breathing issues. A poultice may be put on wounds such as scrapes, sores, and bites, giving relief by providing a cooling sensation. The herbage contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. The leaves of this plant are natural insect repellents when burned.