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Wild Sage
Stachys aethiopica
SA tree number
English: Wild Sage, African Stachys, African Sage, African Woundwort, White Salvia
Afrikaans: Katbossie, Katpisbossie, Kattekruie, Klein Kattekruie
S. Sotho: Bokhatha, Bolao-ba-litaola, Likhobe-tsa-bali-sana
Misapplied or old scientific names: Stachys rugosa, Stachys aethiopica var. glandulifera, Stachys aethiopica var. hispidissima, Stachys aethiopica var. parviflora, Stachys attenuata, Stachys capensis, Stachys fruticetorum, Stachys harveyi, Stachys hispidula, Stachys serrulata
Stachys aethiopica, commonly known as African Stachys or Wild Sage, is a strongly aromatic, herbaceous, perennial groundcover. This sprawling plant, with its square stems and hairy, glandular leaves, is easy to spot. It produces beautiful whorls of white, pink, or mauve flowers, often with darker spots, primarily in spring and sporadically through summer. It's a versatile and hardy plant, perfect for filling open spaces in your garden, and it's known for its traditional medicinal uses.
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Distinguishing features:
Strongly aromatic foliage.
Square-shaped stems, typical of the Lamiaceae family.
Glandular leaves covered in fine hairs, ovate with toothed margins.
Whorls of 2–6 white, pink, or mauve flowers with two lips and darker spots.
Sprawling growth habit, forming an attractive groundcover.
Overall appearance:
A sprawling, herbaceous perennial groundcover that forms a dense mat of aromatic foliage, punctuated by upright stems bearing small, colourful flowers.
Height:
Typically grows to 0.5-1 metre.
Width:
Can spread 0.5-1 metre wide.
Leaves:
Glandular and covered in fine hairs.
Petiolate (have leaf stalks).
Arranged opposite each other along the stem.
Ovate (egg-shaped), with a toothed margin (crenate).
8-35 mm long by 6-25 mm wide.
Thin, soft, ovate to heart-shaped.
Clothing hairs of leaf and stem are of two types: thick-walled, usually bicellular with a pointed apex and bulbous base (up to 350 microns long), and longer thin-walled hairs.
Flowers:
Whorls of 2–6 flowers.
White, pink, or mauve in colour.
Two-lipped, with darker spots visible on both corollas (petals).
The top corolla is hooded.
Four protruding stamens are visible.
10-15 mm long.
Calyx (outer protective layer of the flower) is roughly hairy, often with glandular tips.
Borne on a short, terminal inflorescence (flower cluster) that lengthens with age.
Flowering season:
Primarily spring and summer (typically September to February in South Africa), but can flower sporadically throughout the year.
Fruits:
The fruit is a small, dry nutlet.
Seeds:
The seeds are small and brownish.
Stems:
Square-shaped (in cross-section), typical of the Lamiaceae family.
Sparsely glandular and hairy throughout.
Much branched and trailing.
Grooved.
Can produce rooted runners, allowing the plant to spread.
Soil type:
Tolerates a range of soil types, but prefers well-drained soil.
Aspect:
Tolerates light shade to full sun. Grows vigorously in either condition.
Ecology:
Attracts butterflies and a myriad of tiny insects to the garden, which provide food for lizards and frogs. It is a pioneer plant. Due to its hairy and aromatic leaves, it generally does not have major pests, though mealy bugs can sometimes be found near the base of the stems and leaves.
Distribution and habitat:
Its distribution extends from the Western Cape through to the Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and up into tropical Africa.
It is also found in Lesotho.
In South Africa, it is found in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Northern Cape.
Habitats include scrubland, grassland, fynbos, and coastal forest, at altitudes of 5–2 438 m.
It is widespread as a scrambling undershrub in coastal dune bush, fynbos, or along forest margins.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Stachys is derived from the Greek word 'stachys', meaning 'an ear of grain or corn', which refers to the shape of the inflorescence (flower cluster).
The species name aethiopica means 'of African or Ethiopian origin', referring to its wide distribution across the African continent.
Historical aspects:
The genus Stachys is very diverse, with approximately 450 species worldwide. Stachys aethiopica has several historical synonyms, reflecting past taxonomic understanding. It has a long history of traditional use in southern Africa for various ailments.
Interesting facts:
This plant is like a natural air freshener for your garden with its strong, pleasant aroma! It's so aromatic that it generally keeps most pesky pests away.
Its common name "Wild Sage" gives a clue to its traditional uses – some people use it like a herbal remedy, especially for things like fever.
It's a real shapeshifter for your garden! You can let it sprawl as a groundcover, or if you're feeling fancy, grow it in a pot where its foliage will cascade beautifully.
Growing tips:
Propagation: Easily propagated from seed or cuttings. Sow seeds in late spring and early summer into a general potting soil mix. Seedlings germinate quickly and can be transplanted into well-drained potting soil once the first true leaves appear. For cuttings, take tip cuttings in spring and summer, ensuring they are without a terminal flowering bud. Place them in a rooting medium (e.g., 50% fine milled bark and 50% polystyrene, or perlite/vermiculite/river sand/peat) under mist or enclosed in a plastic bag to retain humidity. Keep warm but out of direct sunlight. Cuttings should root in 2–4 weeks. If the planting is established, rooted runners of overgrown plant material can be cut back and replanted.
Light: Tolerates light shade to full sun and grows vigorously in either condition.
Soil: Prefers well-drained soil that is watered regularly. Tolerates a range of soil types.
Watering: Water-wise, but not fully drought-tolerant. It prefers regular watering for consistent flowering and improved health.
Pruning: Fast-growing plants can get untidy. After each growth period in summer, prune them back to retain shape and encourage new growth.
Feeding: General garden fertilising can be used to maintain plant health and growth vigour. Composting or mulching improves flowering.
Maintenance: Long-lived for an herbaceous perennial, but replanting propagated plants from time to time can improve the display.
This plant is a fantastic alternative for:
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