Plant · GBIF taxon 2926992
Chia
Salvia hispanicaAlso known as Mexican Chia, Spanish Sage, Black Chia
Chia is an annual herbaceous plant native to Mesoamerica that develops square stems lined with serrated, opposite leaves and dense spikes of purple-blue or white two-lipped flowers. Deeply rooted in indigenous agriculture, it was cultivated by Aztec and Maya societies as a core staple crop alongside maize and beans. In its native montane ecosystems, it colonizes sunny slopes and field margins where its nectar-rich blossoms support wild native bees.
FloweringHerbaceousAnnual
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- Caterpillars
ThreatsAgricultural intensification, habitat clearing, genetic dilution from cultivated clones
HabitatsPine-oak forest margins, scrublands, montane slopes, cultivated fields
Life span1 year (annual)
Classification
- OrderLamiales
- FamilyLamiaceae
- GenusSalvia
- SpeciesSalvia hispanica
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for distinctive square stems and whorled spikes of small purple flowers in late summer.
- Cultivation: Requires full sun and sharply draining soil, sensitive to excessive humidity and frost.
Same Genus (c) Rejoice Gassah, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Rejoice Gassah · cc-by
Same Genus Kurt Stüber [1] / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Trevor Harding, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Trevor Harding · cc-by
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.