History & Introduction
Sticky sage is a deciduous perennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae) native to temperate regions of Europe and western Asia. Its name is derived from the sticky hairs covering the entire plant. Sticky sage was likely introduced as an ornamental plant, though the timeline of its introduction is not clear. It is sparsely distributed in the Northeast, with possible presence in several counties of NY, most notably in the Hudson Valley region, where it was first detected along the Appalachian Trail in 2009. It is not known to be present within LIISMA and is ranked as a Tier 1 species for prevention and early detection.
Identification & Biology
Sticky sage bears spade-shaped leaves with toothed margins that are arranged oppositely on hairy, square stems. The hairy pointed leaves may be up to five inches long on petioles three to four inches long.
The two-lipped hairy yellow flowers with maroon spots have been documented blooming in New York from July to at least October. Flowers are arranged in whorls of two to six on a raceme. Calyces, or structures around the base of buds or flowers, are neon green with the plant as a whole having a vibrant green hue. The entire plant may stretch up to five feet high when bearing flowers on racemes up to four feet long.
Sticky sage has been documented in the Northeast growing well on well-drained, rich, loamy, and calcareous soils in habitats such as gardens, rocky ledges, meadows, and oak-maple woodlands. It tolerates partial shade to sun. In its native range, sticky sage is additionally known to inhabit several types of woodlands and forests, habitat edges, wetland borders, and stream banks. Sticky sage has been noted to leaf-out in mid-April in upstate New York, ahead of most other vegetation in its forested habitat.
Yellow sage, Salvia koyamae, is a look-alike of sticky sage. Yellow sage flowers are not maroon-spotted and the plant is described as a creeping ground cover rather than upright as sticky sage is. Yellow sage is also an ornamental plant.
Damage & Concern
Sticky sage can form dense monocultures that exclude native species and diminish biodiversity. It can spread readily both by seed and vegetatively. In late summer or early fall, the plant produces sticky seeds that may stick to animals and people, hitchhiking to new locations and establishing new populations. This dispersal method has resulted in significant expansion of sticky sage populations along the Appalachian Trail near the NY-CT border.
This invasive species may also grow in close proximity to wetlands, threatening biodiversity unique to these habitats and posing a challenge for management.
Management & Control
Early Detection and Prevention:
The most effective method of minimizing negative impacts of invasive species is preventing their initial introduction and spread. Sticky sage is not a regulated or prohibited species in NY, though its sale and use ornamentally are not recommended. Avoid planting sticky sage and instead consider non-invasive and native plant alternatives for your garden.
If you visit an area with sticky sage or other invasive plant populations, take care to clean clothes, shoes, and gear of seeds that may be hitching a ride to prevent introduction to new areas. This is especially important when travelling out of the LIISMA region.
Manual Control:
Small populations and young sticky sage individuals can be effectively controlled by hand pulling or digging. Well-established plants may have runners that are difficult to remove and can sprout into new plants if they are left behind from manual removal.
Mowing may be effective in preventing seed set, but will not likely suppress populations in a significant way. Mowing or clipping flowers before sticky sage goes to seed to prevent its spread to new locations is recommended if full removal is not possible.
Repeated manual treatments are likely necessary to deplete the seed bank over time as is follow up monitoring for several years after removal. When removing sticky sage or other invasive plants manually, ensure proper disposal to prevent spread including bagging up or solarizing plant materials. Take care to remove and tightly bag up any seeds that are present.
Chemical Control:
Always follow herbicide labels, state and local regulations, and best management practices to minimize harm to surrounding vegetation and wildlife. According to the Lower Hudson PRISM, a springtime foliar spray of 1-5% glyphosate is effective in treating sticky sage.
Under legislation passed in 2020, glyphosate is prohibited from use on state land on Long Island. For those seeking to control sticky sage chemically on state land, a FIFRA 2ee may be necessary in NYS to get permission to use another herbicide for perennial broadleaf plants to treat it. Always follow the label instructions and apply accordingly.
Monitoring & Reporting
Sticky sage is a Tier 1 species in LIISMA with the goal of prevention and early detection. If reports are gathered, LIISMA will collaborate with partners and landowners to identify and manage early infestations before they can spread widely. LIISMA highly encourages the public to report any sightings of this species. Your reports matter to us–report sticky sage to iMapinvasives or iNaturalist as soon as you detect it!
iNaturalist is an app and website that can help you record your own observations, identify species, collaborate with others, and access the observational data collected by iNaturalist users. Check out iMapInvasives to map invasive species like a pro!
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