Golden chia (desert chia)
Salvia columbariae
The seed the Chumash and Cahuilla carried on long journeys; sow with the winter rains.
Hardiness: zones 7 to 10
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: June to July
From: California and the Southwest
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: California, Desert Southwest. Hardy in zones 7 to 10.
The story
Chia was gathered and sown by the Chumash, Cahuilla, Tongva and Paiute, who beat the seed into baskets and ate it toasted, ground into pinole, or stirred into water for long journeys; a tablespoon was said to sustain a runner for a day. The Aztec grew a cousin as a staple.
Planting
Full sun, dry drained soil, and a Mediterranean climate; sow seed directly with the autumn rains. An annual to 2 feet with blue flowers.
Growing
Water never after it is up; it grows on winter rain alone. Let it set seed and self-sow.
Harvest and use
Cut the dry seed heads in early summer, before birds and shattering; thresh and winnow. Toast, grind, or soak.
What to watch for
Birds at harvest; summer water.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home