# lyreleaf sage (*Salvia lyrata*) Lyreleaf sage is a pretty plant with soft, green leaves shaped like a lyre. It grows beautiful purple flowers that attract butterflies and bees, making gardens lively and colorful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 34 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![lyreleaf sage](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Salvia_lyrata_Kaldari.jpg&width=800) Photo: Kaldari, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salvia_lyrata_Kaldari.jpg) ## Appearance The lyreleaf sage has distinctive lyre-shaped leaves forming a basal rosette, often purplish underneath. Its tall, square stems bear spikes of delicate, two-lipped, blue-purple flowers. This upright plant stands out with its unique leaf shape and vibrant blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Lamiaceae - **Genus:** Salvia ## Interesting facts - Lyreleaf sage got its name because its leaves look like a tiny harp! - Native Americans used this plant for remedies and as a tasty green vegetable. - Rubbing its leaves releases a refreshing, minty scent—try it next time you see one! - This clever plant can grow in sunny fields or shady woodlands, adapting easily! ## Special abilities - **Resilient Roots:** Lyreleaf sage has a deep taproot that helps it survive dry periods by reaching water far below the surface. - **Self-Spreader:** Lyreleaf sage can produce many seeds and also spread by rhizomes, helping it colonize new areas. - **Square Stems:** Lyreleaf sage has uniquely square stems, a feature that helps provide stability and support for its upright flower stalks. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-90 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen - **Pollinates:** common eastern bumblebee (*Bombus impatiens*) — visits flowers for nectar - **Pollinates:** [monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — drinks nectar from flowers ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before picking any plants. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify lyreleaf sage? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is lyreleaf sage? 30-90 cm ### How wide does lyreleaf sage spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on lyreleaf sage? 1-2 cm ### When does lyreleaf sage bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is lyreleaf sage edible? Yes ### Is lyreleaf sage toxic? None ### What is lyreleaf sage's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Ashley River Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashley-river-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Brewton Historic Commercial District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brewton-historic-commercial-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Coker Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coker-arboretum) — North Carolina, US · Zoo - [Commerce Street Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/commerce-street-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Deep Creek Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/deep-creek-preserve) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see lyreleaf sage](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lyreleaf-sage) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Lyreleaf Sage: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lyreleaf-sage)