Sage
Salvia officinalis
Garden Sage, Culinary Sage, Common Sage , Salie (Afr.)
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Sage is an attractive, hardy, low maintenance plant that can tolerate poor soil conditions and drought. This plant comes in many cultivars that have multicoloured leaves. It has many uses, including culinary, medicinal, insect repellent or ornamental.
Related Plants
Planning
Difficulty
Easy
Flowering time
Summer
Fruiting time
Autumn
Harvesting
Leaves can be harvested throughout the year, preferably before the flowers open. Harvest lightly in the first year to ensure that the plant grows fully. Sage is best fresh but can be frozen or dried.
Propagation
Seed
Start seeds indoors in frost areas 6-10 weeks before transplanting or sow seeds directly in Spring and Summer. Germination takes 2 weeks.
Cuttings
Take half ripe stem or shoot cuttings 5-10 cm long or mature cuttings 7-10 cm long from Spring to Autumn and plant out directly. Keep moist until well-rooted
Division
Divide plants in Spring.
Layering
Air layer in Spring or Autumn.
Special features
Attracts bees
Attracts butterflies
Repels harmful insects
Sage repels ants, black flea beetle, cabbage fly, cabbage looper and cabbage maggot.
Drought resistant
Pot plant
Sage makes a good potted plant, but provide good drainage.
Special features
Origin
Europe and the Mediterranean.
Natural climate
Mediterranean
Environment
Light
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Partial Sun
Soil moisture
Moist
Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand, Chalk, Compost
Soil PH preference
Alkaline, Neutral, Acid
Frost hardiness
Hardy
Uses
Edible
The leaves are edible and have a savoury, slightly peppery flavour. The flowers and leaves can be eaten raw, cooked, boiled or pickled.
Medicinal
Used as a homoeopathic medicine. The oil is thought to have astringent and stimulant properties and soothe muscle stiffness, rheumatism, and neuralgic conditions. It is antiseptic and anti-viral.
Personality
Family
Lamiaceae
Flower colour
Purple, Blue
Scent
Mild
Problems
Sage is susceptible to stem rot and whiteflies.
