White Sage is native to North America and found throughout Canada, the US, and Mexico.
Is sage native to Canada?
Teucrium canadense, commonly known as Canada germander, American germander or wood sage, is a perennial herb in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to North America where it is found across the contiguous states of the United States and in much of Canada.
Where is white sage indigenous to?
This plant is deeply rooted in the cultures and lifeways of the Indigenous communities of Southern California and northern Baja, the only region where white sage naturally occurs in the world.
Can you grow white sage in Canada?
Here in the Twisp River Valley on the east slope of the North Cascades, we have hot dry summers. White sage likes this climate in the summer. With irrigation my tallest plants have gotten up to 30” tall with multiple shoots. The biggest plant has 14 shoots over a foot long with some single stems being 24” long.
What sage grows in Canada?
The greatest variety of native sagebrushes occurs in the western mountains, where species that range from Alaska to California and Colorado are found. Several species range across the prairies and 2 species are transcontinental in Canada. Sagebrushes grow on dry plains, hills and rocky slopes.
What sage is Native to Ontario?
The delightful name azure blue sage (Salvia azurea) refers to its sky-blue flowers in late summer and early fall.
Can you use sage if you’re not indigenous?
If you’re not a member of an Indigenous community, purchasing white sage, Palo Santo, or other sacred herbs and quickly Googling “how to smudge” will not make you qualified to do so. This is cultural appropriation, and it’s harmful to Native communities.
Is it OK to burn white sage?
As long as you burn sage for only short periods of time, it’s unlikely to cause problems, Fleg adds. But if you have asthma or other lung problems, check with your doctor before using it. When Yeager has a patient with lung problems, she won’t burn sage with the person in the room.
What is the history behind white sage?
Historically, it provided food and medicine for a number of Native American tribes along the Pacific Coast. Due to reverence for its usefulness and the powerful incense-like fragrance of the plant’s leaves when burning, California tribes incorporated White Sage into religious rituals.
Why is white sage sacred?
White sage is burned for meditation, smudging and cleansing of spirit and dwelling. In some beliefs, white sage smoke is believed to provide a barrier that prevents negative spirits from entering the room in which the ceremony is being held.
Why is white sage endangered?
As with many other native plants, remaining populations are threatened by climate change, drought, and wildfire, but the most immediate impact to white sage is large-scale, illegal harvesting of wild plants to make smudge bundles for commercial sale.
Is sage a perennial in Canada?
Sage is perennial in the Toronto area, though it may benefit from winter protection such as mulch. In areas with colder winters, it is best treated as an annual or grown as a container plant to be overwintered indoors, where it needs bright sunlight. Prune to promote bushy growth and plenty of new leaves.
Is white sage rare?
Officially, white sage is not endangered, nor even threatened.
What sage is indigenous?
White sage (Salvia apiana, Ramona polystachya) is a highly aromatic, evergreen perennial shrub that has been medicinally and ceremonially significant to Indigenous peoples in California and Mexico for thousands of years.
Where is sage found in Canada?
Canadian prairies
Prairie sage is found wild in the Canadian prairies; Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba.
Can I grow my own white sage?
As a sun-loving, drought-tolerant plant, it can grow well in a suitable climate. Growing your own white sage can take patience, but the harvest is rewarding.
Is lavender Native to Ontario?
Growing lavender successfully can be a challenge, in Ontario, if you don’t understand the nature of the plant. Understanding that lavender is not a native plant to Canada, it is native to the Mediterranean, is important. It reminds you that you will have to make it comfortable in this country.
Is Russian sage Native to Ontario?
Russian Sage is native to Central Asia through to the Himalayas, and is therefore a lover of dry, rocky sites and alkaline soils – a terrific choice for the water-conscious gardener. The almost shrub-like habit of Russian Sage gives it a unique presence in the landscape.
What tribes can use white sage?
The Cheyenne use the white sage in their Sun Dance and Standing Against Thunder ceremonies (Hart 1976). Other tribes who used white sage include the Arapaho, Comanche, Gros Ventre, Creek, Navaho, Tewa, and Ute (Nickerson 1966, Carlson and Jones 1939, Hart 1976, Thwaites 1905, Denig 1855, Elmore 1944, Robbins et al.
What should you not do when burning sage?
Never leave burning sage unattended. Make sure to put your sage bundle out completely after every use. Setting off smoke alarms is common.
What religion uses sage?
While sage is commonly associated with smudging and several Native American, First Nations, Inuit or Métis cultures may use forms of sage that are local to their region, the use of sage is neither universal, nor as widespread as many believe.