History

• Salvia melissodora's name stems from the Greek terms for fragrant and honeybee. "Melissodora" is the combination of "Melissa," meaning honeybee, and "odora," which means fragrance.
  Melissa was also the name of a nymph from Crete who gathered honey, according to Greek mythology.
  Salvia melissodora's botanical name was also once called Tarahumara because the plant was used medicinally by the Tarahumara native people of Mexico.
  
  

Features

• Salvia melissodora can grow into a branching bush reaching more than 4 feet in width and 6 feet in height. It is covered with lilac-colored flowers that stand in spikes up to 8 inches tall.
  Salvia melissodora blooms continually from spring through fall and is known for its lavender-scented leaves and blossoms. Its leaves resemble the gray-green leaves of sage--part of why it's also called Grape-Scented Sage.
  In addition to its potent fragrance, salvia melissodora is known for its ability to lure hummingbirds, butterflies and bees to its nectar-rich flowers.
  
  

Uses

• Salvia melissodora has a variety of uses, both culinary and medicinal. Its flowers and leaves can be used to make tea. Its taste is light and resembles that of green grapes. The blooms can also be used as a garnish.
  Medicinally, the Tarahumara natives of Mexico used salvia melissodora seeds and leaves to treat fever.
  
  

Cultivation

• The plant is considered easy to grow, requiring little tending once established. It prefers full sun but can also do well in partial afternoon shade. It grows in USDA zones 8 to11. This herbal bush is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.
  It requires water regularly and should be planted in soil that drains well. If you prefer keeping your grape-scented sage from growing too large, pinch it back during the growing season.
  
  

Companion Plantings

• The plant grows full and tall, but the base of this shrub is open-branched. Pairing it with other herbal plants, such as lemon thyme, lemon verbena and lion's tail, enhances a garden's collection of fragrant blossoms. These companions are all fall-blooming plants.