Chia

Wildflower Species Types of Flowers Bigelow's Monkey Flower Brown-eyed Primrose Chuparosa Creosote Bush Desert Chicory Desert Dandelion Desert Lupine Desert Purple Mat Fremont Pincushion Phacelia Popcorn Flower

Chia (Salvia columbariae) is a small, but complicated looking flower in the Mint Family (Lamiaceae).

It's a spiky, purple plant, with even smaller, bluer trumpet shaped flowers growing between the spikes. Range is limited to the desert Southwest.

Chia grows as an annual plant, and depending on the condition, the stem can grow and flower close to the ground, or up and around shrubs in the foot and one-half range.

Chia seeds are considered nutritious, high in protein, fiber and calcium. Native Americans from Central America, north through California have longstanding cultural ties with the edible plant.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels