Propagating Native Sages

It’s too dang hot and dry to be planting anything new, but it’s a great time for propagating native plants.

Across most of the west the sages (salvias) and sagebrushes (artemesias) have already flowered and are now kicking out a second round of foliage. Getting cuttings from them now ensures that they’ve got several months of warm weather in which to develop roots before winter sets in and everything grinds to a halt.

These guys are cuttings from two native sages here in San Diego County, a black sage that I found growing on a slope by the San Luis Rey river, and a Cleveland sage I found hiking near its namesake, the Cleveland National Forest.

I hope to use them next spring in a Poultry-friendly California/Mediterranean garden I’m planning for the west side of the Acre near where it meets the dry creek.