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Class A Noxious Weed

Meadow Clary
Salvia pratensis
 

 
 Plant family: Labiatae (Lamiaceae)
Year listed:
Native to: Eastern Europe

Why is it a noxious weed?
Meadow clary invades range land and poses a threat to forage production and plant biodiversity by displacing less competitive, more desirable species. Meadow clary is a close relative of Mediterranean sage (Salvia aethiopis), which is also a Class A noxious weed in Washington.

 

How would I identify it?
General Description: Meadow clary is a fibrous-rooted perennial, ranging from 1 to 2 feet tall. Leaves are mostly basal with a long stem. The plant is aromatic, and covered with small hairs with the upper plant parts being glandular.

Leaves:

  • egg shaped to oblong
  • may also be heart shaped with a notch at the base and wrinkled
  • 3 - 6 inches long
  • margins can be irregularly serrated (sharp, forward pointing) or rounded

 

Flowers:

  • irregularly spaced along stem, at 4 - 8 per node, in a whorl
  • violet-blue, but can range from rose to dark violet in cultivated
    varieties

Stems:

  • 4- 8 inches long
  • very few leaves on stem

 

How does it reproduce?
Meadow clary is a perennial herb.

Where does it grow?
Meadow clary has been found in dry well drained sites as well as less well drained meadow areas.

What is the distribution in Washington State?
 

 

  • Distribution map not available at this time.

How do I control it?

General control methods:

Cultural: Information not available at this time.

Herbicide: Please refer to the PNW Weed Management Handbook, or contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

Mechanical: Information not available at this time.

Biological: None known.

Are there plants that may be confused with Meadow clary?

Meadow clary closely resembles clary sage (S. sclarea) , which is also a Class A noxious weed in Washington. A distinguishing characteristic of meadow clary is the smaller (or inconspicuous) bract under the flower heads, compared to the larger bract of the clary sage. If you need help with identification, contact your county noxious weed coordinator.

 

For more information

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Meadow clary infestation
Meadow clary infestation.

 Last updated September 11, 2008