Salvia elegans Pineapple Sage PFAF Plant Database

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Salvia elegans - Vahl.

Common Name

Pineapple Sage

Family

Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Synonyms

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Not known

Range

Southern N. America - Mexico to Guatemala.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Salvia elegans is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in).
It is hardy to zone 8. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Mar to May. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.It is noted for attracting wildlife.

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.


http://www.kurtstueber.de/

biolib.de

Habitats
Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Edible Uses: Condiment. The leaves have a pleasant scent of pineapple and can be used fresh or dried as a flavouring[238]. They are added to cold drinks and fruit salads, fresh leaves can be placed under sponge cake mixtures to give a subtle scent, whilst the fresh or dried leaves can be added to savoury dishes to give a sausage-like flavour[238, K].

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. None known

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details

Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a warm sunny position[200]. Prefers a rich soil[1]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[200]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[200]. The top growth will be cut back to the ground in cold winters but, if the roots are given a good mulch in the autumn, plants will often survive the winter outdoors and resprout freely from the base in the spring[200]. There are some named varieties. 'Scarlet Pineapple' has leaves with a pineapple-like scent[238]. The flowers are very attractive to bees, providing a good source of nectar[61]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233].

Propagation

Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[200]. 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 half-ripe wood succeed at almost any time in the growing season[200].

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Expert comment

Author
Vahl.

Botanical References
200

Links / References

[K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants

A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.

[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
Miss D	Thu Feb 19 2009

Pinapple sage is traditionally used in Mexican herbal medicine as an anxiolytic (anxiety reducing substance). Although there is no conclusive evidence to support these effects in humans, antidepressant and anxiolytic properties have been demonstrated in mice [Herrera-Ruiza, Maribel; Yolanda García-Beltrána, Sergio Morab, Gabriela Díaz-Vélizb, Glauce S.B. Vianac, Jaime Tortorielloa, Guillermo Ramíreza (Aug. 2006). "Antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of hydroalcoholic extract from Salvia elegans". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 107 (1)].

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