Chia Seeds|Salvia columbariae|California Native Plants|Native Wildflowers|Southwestern|Desert Wildflowers|Gifts for Gardeners|Organic|Edible

Salvia columbariae is an annual plant of the Lamiaceae (Mint) family. It is commonly called Chia or Golden Chia. It grows in California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora, and Baja California. In California it is found in the Coast Ranges and southern Sierras. Stem hairs are generally short and sparse in distribution. Oblong-ovate leaves are 2 to 10 centimeter long and form a distincvt basal rosette. Flower stalks rise from the base and grow to 10 to 50 centimeters. The calyx is 8 to 10 millimeters long and the upper lip is unlobed but has 2 to 3 awns; the lower lip is about twice the size of the upper lip. Flower color can be pale to bright blue or purple tipped. The fruit of S. columbariae is a nutlet, tan to grey in color, and 1.5 to 2 millimeter in length. Once an important food for Native Americans. Today it is most often grown from seed, but germination can be difficult (see propagation below).

For propagating by seed: No general recommendation possible as several ecotypes involved. Dry storage at 155°P for 6 mos.; then 1 mo. stratification gives 45-95% germination on seeds from five out of ten locations (Capon et al. 1978). Dry storage at 155°P for 1 wk. for desert-collected seeds gives good results (Capon and Van Asdall 1970). For specific treatments of seeds from 19 locations, see Capon and Brecht 1970. Addition of a small amount of charate over the sown seeds significantly improves germination (Keeley and Keeley 1982).