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Sage

Salvia officinalis

Category: Herbs

Sage is a hardy perennial with soft, grayish green leaves. Its flower colors vary; they can be purple, pink, blue, or white. Common sage is most often used for cooking; it's a classic in stuffing. However, there are hundreds of other varieties which make beautiful ornamentals!

How to Grow Sage

Quick Info

Spacing
1/Square
Depth
0.1 in
0.1 in
Sun
Full Sun
Water
1 in/week
Season
Perennial
Frost
Tolerant
Height
1-2 ft
Germination
7-21 days
Germination Temp
60-70 °F
Sprout to Harvest
70-80 days
Soil pH
Acidic - Neutral

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Varieties

Amore Plum
Amore Plum Regal plum purple blooms attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Deer resistant, drought tolerant, simple to grow.
Amore Purple
Amore Purple Deep plum blooms attract pollinators. 12-14 inch plants ideal for beds, borders, pots and cottage gardens. Matures in 70 days.
Amore Rose Bicolor
Amore Rose Bicolor A playful pink and delicate creamy white salvia that adds a touch of fun to the garden.
Amore Salmon
Amore Salmon Soft salmon spike blooms attract pollinators. Well-branched 12-14" plants ideal for beds, borders, pots, and cottage gardens.
Blue Monday
Blue Monday Produces long-lasting blue flower spikes! A lovely 2-foot plant that is becoming all the rage in cottage gardens.
Blue Victory Salvia
Blue Victory Salvia This mealycup sage offers an exceptionally long season of deep violet-purple blooms, thriving in heat.
Broad Leaf
Broad Leaf A perennial herb with bold, assertive, fragrant leaves, essential for seasoning meats, stuffings, and aiding digestion of rich foods.
Common
Common A culinary staple with broad, green leaves, offering a distinct earthy and mildly spicy flavor for various dishes.
View all 21 varieties →

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Pests

Beneficial Critters

Growing from Seed

Although sage can be grown from seed, the best way to grow high-quality sage is from cuttings from an established plant.

Planting Considerations

In the garden, plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots, but keep sage away from cucumbers.

Feeding

If soil is poor, work in some fertilizer before planting sage. Sage will benefit from a light application of fertilizer 6-8 weeks after planting.

Harvesting

Harvest sage just before it flowers. During the first year, harvest lightly to ensure that the plant grows fully. After the first year, be sure to leave a few stalks so that the plant can rejuvenate. If fully established, one plant can be harvested up to three times in one season.

Storage

Sage's flavor is best when fresh, but it can also be frozen or dried. To dry, leave the branches in the sun. Once dried, remove the leaves and store them in an airtight container.

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