prairie wildflower

Chia

Salvia columbariae

Also known as California Sage, Chia Sage, Golden Chia, Desert Chia

Native to Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah

Southern California to extreme southwestern Utah, Arizona and Sonoran Desert

In the garden

A prairie wildflower for full sun and lean, dry soil. Its blue flowers peak in March. At up to 2 ft, it suits meadows and sunny borders.

Light

Full sun Partial shade Full shade

Moisture

Dry Moist Wet

The Chia's blue flowers bloom February to May, peaking in March. This early-spring display draws butterflies and bees.

Chia blooms blueFoliage

Butterflies Fiery Skipper

also Painted Lady, Variable Checkerspot, Ceraunus Blue +15 more
Acmon Blue, Funereal Duskywing, Behr's Metalmark, Callippe Fritillary, Sleepy Duskywing, Spring White, Desert Orangetip, Desert Mexican Metalmark, Henne's Chalcedon Checkerspot, Dymasia dymas, White Checkered-Skipper, Heliopetes ericetorum, Desert Black Swallowtail, Zerene eurydice, Sara Orangetip
Bees Yellow-faced Bumble Bee

also Western Honey Bee, Black-tailed Bumble Bee, California Digger Bee +2 more
Andrena prolixa, Micralictoides mojavensis
Moths White-lined Sphinx also Alfalfa Looper, Pyrausta lethalis

Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.

Habitat: PrairieThe wild plant community it grows in.
Native range: Arizona, California, Nevada, and UtahUnited States (4): AZ, CA, NV, UT. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Native distribution: Southern California to extreme southwestern Utah, Arizona and Sonoran DesertThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.

Light: Full sunHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
Moisture: DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
Soil: Dry, well-drained soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
Soil texture: Light to medium (sandy to loamy)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
Soil pH: Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).

Height: up to 2 ft (to 0.6 m)Typical mature height.
Spread: ~2 ft (0.5 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
Life cycle: AnnualWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).

Type: WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
Bloom: Feb–MayWhen it flowers.
Flower color: BlueThe bloom color, or colors.
Fruit/Seeds: Nutlets; ripens Jan–DecThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
Toxicity: None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.