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Salvia officinalis - L.

Common Name Sage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden Sage
Family Lamiaceae or Labiatae
USDA hardiness 5-10
Known Hazards The plant can be toxic when used in excess or when taken for extended periods[238] symptoms include: restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, tremors, seizures. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Avoid if predisposed to convulsions [301].
Habitats Dry banks and stony places[100], usually in limestone areas and often where there is very little soil[4].
Range S. Europe.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (5 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (5 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Salvia officinalis Sage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden  Sage


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Salvia officinalis Sage, Kitchen sage, Small Leaf Sage, Garden  Sage
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Summary

Bloom Color: Purple. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Mid summer. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Salvia officinalis is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves
Edible Uses: Condiment  Tea

Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked[2, 14, 27, 46, 52]. A very common herb, the strongly aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods[183]. They are an aid to digestion and so are often used with heavy, oily foods[244]. They impart a sausage-like flavour to savoury dishes. The young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, boiled, pickled or used in sandwiches[183]. The flowers can also be sprinkled on salads to add colour and fragrance[183]. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[183], it is said to improve the digestion[13, 21]. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used commercially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods etc[61, 183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antidiarrhoeal  Antihydrotic  Antiseptic  Antispasmodic  Appetizer  Aromatherapy  Astringent  Carminative  
Cholagogue  Galactofuge  Stimulant  Tonic  Vasodilator

Sage has a very long history of effective medicinal use and is an important domestic herbal remedy for disorders of the digestive system. Its antiseptic qualities make it an effective gargle for the mouth where it can heal sore throats, ulcers etc[K]. The leaves applied to an aching tooth will often relieve the pain[4, K]. The whole herb is antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, galactofuge, stimulant, tonic and vasodilator[4, 9, 13, 21, 165, 238]. Sage is also used internally in the treatment of excessive lactation, night sweats, excessive salivation (as in Parkinson's disease), profuse perspiration (as in TB), anxiety, depression, female sterility and menopausal problems[238]. Many herbalists believe that the purple-leafed forms of this species are more potent medicinally[238]. This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women or to people who have epileptic fits[238]. The plant is toxic in excess or when taken for extended periods[238] - though the toxic dose is very large. Externally, it is used to treat insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal discharge[238]. The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[4]. The essential oil from the plant is used in small doses to remove heavy collections of mucous from the respiratory organs and mixed in embrocations for treating rheumatism[4]. In larger doses, however, it can cause epileptic fits, giddiness etc[4]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Tonic'[210]. The German Commission E Monographs, a therapeutic guide to herbal medicine, approve Salvia officinalis Sage for loss of appetite, inflammation of the mouth, excessive perspiration (see [302] for critics of commission E).

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Compost  Essential  Repellent  Strewing  Teeth

The leaves make excellent tooth cleaners[14, 21], simply rub the top side of the leaf over the teeth and gums[K]. The purple-leafed form of sage has tougher leaves and is better for cleaning the teeth[K]. The leaves have antiseptic properties and can heal diseased gums[201]. An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, hair shampoos (it is good for dark hair) and as a food flavouring[14, 57, 61]. It is a very effective 'fixer' in perfumes[7], and is also used to flavour toothpastes and is added to bio-activating cosmetics[238]. The plant (the flowers?) is an alternative ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator[32]. This is a dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time needed to make the compost[K]. The growing or dried plant is said to repel insects, it is especially useful when grown amongst cabbages and carrots[14, 18, 20, 201]. It was formerly used as a strewing herb[201] and has been burnt in rooms to fumigate them[244]. A good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions, though it needs weeding for the first year or two[197]. They are best spaced about 60cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Dynamic accumulator  Food Forest  Ground cover  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore, Specimen. Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[200]. Prefers a calcareous soil[4, 14]. Dislikes heavy or acid soils[1, 16]. Succeeds in dry soils, tolerating drought once it is established[190]. Sage can be killed by excessive winter wet[200] and winter-planted bushes often die[208]. A very ornamental plant[1], sage is commonly grown in the herb garden for culinary and medicinal purposes. There are some named varieties[182, 183]. 'Albiflora' is said to be the best culinary sage[11]. 'Purpurea' has tougher leaves than the type and makes a better tooth cleaner[K]. Plants need to be trimmed in late spring in order to keep them compact[200]. They tend to degenerate after a few years and are best replaced after about 4 years[4]. The leaves emit a unique pungent aroma when pressed[245]. A good companion for many plants, including rosemary, cabbages and carrots[14, 18, 20, 54], the growing plant is said to repel insects. It is inhibited by wormwood growing nearby and dislikes growing with basil, rue or the cucumber and squash family[14, 18, 20, 54]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Edible, Fragrant foliage, Not North American native, Suitable for cut flowers. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 5. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is multistemmed with multiple stems from the crown [1-2]. An evergreen. The root pattern is a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [1-2].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[1]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year. Cuttings of heeled shoots, taken off the stem in May and planted out directly into the garden grow away well[182]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, June to August in a frame[78]. Easy. Cuttings of mature wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, November/December in a cold frame[78]. Layering in spring or autumn. Mound soil up into the plants, the branches will root into this soil and they can be removed and planted out 6 - 12 months later.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Adacayi,Broadleaf sage, Ching-chieh, Common sage, Echter salbei, Mariyamiya, Sa er wei ya, Salbei, Salie, Salva, Salvia, Sauge commune, Sauge officinale, Sauge, Shalfey, True sage,

Native Plant Search

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, Central America, Central Asia, China, Cook Islands, East Africa, Europe, France, Greece, Hawaii, India, Italy, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malta, Mediterranean, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Romania, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, USA, West Indies, Worldwide, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe,

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Salvia lavandulifoliaSpanish SageShrub0.3 4-8  LMNDM232
Salvia leucanthaMexican Bush SageShrub1.2 8-10 FLMHNM013
Salvia lyrataCancer Weed, Lyreleaf SagePerennial0.6 4-9 MLMNDM020
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Salvia microphyllaBlackcurrant SagePerennial1.2 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia moorcroftiana Perennial0.9 6-9  LMNDM11 
Salvia multicaulis Shrub0.3 7-10  LMNDM10 
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Salvia pomiferaApple SageShrub1.0 7-10  LMNDM22 
Salvia pratensisMeadow Clary, Introduced sagePerennial1.0 3-7  LMNDM100
Salvia reflexaMintweed, Lanceleaf sageAnnual0.8 0-0  LMNDM100
Salvia sclareaClary, Europe sage, Clary SageBiennial/Perennial1.0 5-9 MLMHNDM223
12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Readers comment

Stefanie Rehn   Wed Feb 6 2008

The German name (D) is "Echter Salbei"

   Mon Aug 11 2008

How do you use salvia officinalis to kill mouth ulcers? beth.

Chris Pollard   Thu Jul 23 2009

I'm trying to grow a Sage plant in a large pot with a Hoya and a lavender but it seems to be very sorry for itself and I'm wondering if it is incompatible with either of these plants?

Fongul   Tue Oct 20 2009

I'm growing Sage outside still and it's almost September. The flowers haven't even completely wilted and it's almost -20c some nights.

   Jul 6 2017 12:00AM

Salvia officinalis (sage, likewise called cultivate wise, normal sage, or culinary sage) is a lasting, evergreen subshrub, with woody stems, grayish leaves, and blue to purplish blossoms. It is an individual from the mint family Lamiaceae and local to the Mediterranean district, however it has naturalized in many places all through the world. It has a long history of restorative and culinary utilize, and in current circumstances as a fancy garden plant. The regular name "sage" is likewise utilized for various related and inconsequential species.

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