Salvia officinalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-ah oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lis
- Description
-
An edible herbaceous perennial herb in the mint family, common sage is a welcome plant to many gardens. It offers great texture and sensory observations with its ovate, furry grey-green fragrant leaves. Its bluish-purple 2-lipped flowers grace the plant in early summer and attract butterflies and bees. Plant in the full sun, though it will tolerate very light shade, in well-drained soil and apply medium moisture, not letting the soil get too wet. Tall plants may require some staking. There are several cultivars that come in many leaf colors that contrast nicely with other brighter green plants in the landscape.
The edible flowers have an herbal, musky flavor. Do not eat in large amounts.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Soils that are too wet can cause rot.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Pollinator and Culinary Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Berggarten'
- 'Icterina'
Variegated leaves chartreuse - 'Purpurascens'
Purple tinge to leaves - 'Tricolor'
Variegated leaves white and purple
- 'Berggarten'
- 'Berggarten', 'Icterina', 'Purpurascens', 'Tricolor'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Berggarten'
- 'Icterina'
Variegated leaves chartreuse - 'Purpurascens'
Purple tinge to leaves - 'Tricolor'
Variegated leaves white and purple
- 'Berggarten'
- 'Berggarten', 'Icterina', 'Purpurascens', 'Tricolor'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Genus name salvia comes from the Latin word to heal as the plant is often sold for medicinal herbal purposes to help with skin and respiratory disorders. Sage has been used in traditional medicine for its antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SW. Germany to S. Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Nectar in flowers is attractive to bees and butterflies.
- Edibility:
- Leaves as a flavoring, in tea, seasoning for meat, vegetable and egg dishes; stuffings.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Delicate 1" long lavender-blue color 2-lipped whorled around upright flower spikes with green bracts that remain after flowers fall off.
-
-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Gray-green fuzzy, wrinkled with clear netted venation. 4" long, very fragrant.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Fuzzy, square
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Garden for the Blind
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
