Species library · Plants & herbs

Foraging African Sage

Salvia aethiopis

Typically in season from January to December, peaking around May to September in the northern hemisphere. Has toxic lookalikes, so check carefully.

African Sage (Salvia aethiopis)

Photo: (c) Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org, some rights reserved (CC BY) · iNaturalist

When African Sage is in season

Typical window in the northern hemisphere, peak May to September. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset, and your own timing depends on local weather, so check your town.

→ Everything in season to forage in September

⚠ Look-alikes & safety

Similar species: Common mullein, Clary sage, Silver sage. Only forage with a confident ID.

Take African Sage into the field

Open African Sage in the Forage app for its full field guide entry with more photos, key features and toxic lookalikes to check against. Add it to your watchlist and the app pings you the moment it comes into season at your exact spot, worked out from live weather, elevation and billions of occurrence records.

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African Sage: common questions

When is African Sage in season?

African Sage is generally in season from January to December, with its peak around May to September in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather. Check the Season Finder for your own location.

Is African Sage safe to forage?

Similar species: Common mullein, Clary sage, Silver sage. Only forage with a confident ID. Never eat any wild plant, berry, nut or mushroom unless you are completely certain of the identification. Check every find against a reliable field guide, and when in doubt, don't.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits