Eyebright Salvia sclarea
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- SAL-vee-ah sklah-RAY-ah
- Description
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Clary sage is a biennial or short-lived herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae family. It tolerates drought and shallow rocky soils. The flowers are fragrant, showy white-lavender blooms that appear from June-August. It is easy to grow in average well-drained soils in full sun. and does well in light, gravelly or sandy soils with good drainage. It is drought-tolerant but wet soil in winter should be avoided. Rich, excessively fertilized soils produce tall plants with few flowers.
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 landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Salvia
- Species:
- sclarea
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Seeds used to clear the sight and reduce inflammation of the eye. The plant has also been used for its antispasmodic, astringent, properties and to reduce flatulence.
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mediterranean region of southern Europe to Central Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract native bees and butterflies. This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Leaves are delicious in omelets, fritters, and stews; flavoring of beers and wines; oil.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Cream/Tan
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Two-lipped white to lavender flowers surrounded by mauve-pink bracts, large whorls of 4 to 6 flowers in upright panicles above the foliage.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal rosette of fragrant grey-green wrinkled leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Leaf Scar Shape:
- C-shaped, Cresent shaped
- Stem Lenticels:
- Not Conspicuous
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
