Plant Guide
Vibrant and handsome variety from Italy
Sun-loving sage's soft gray-green leaves blend handsomely with all other plants, and its pretty light purple flower sprays attract constant attention from hummingbirds. In the kitchen, you'll find fresh sage has a warm complex flavor that enhances vegetables like onions, beans, tomatoes and potatoes, meats like pork, turkey and sausage and most cheese dishes. Bunches of leafy sage branches dry easily to enjoy year-round. This easy ornamental Mediterranean herb belongs in every garden.
Lamiaceae Salvia officianalisItalian Aromatic
Sometimes known as Dalmatian Sage, this is the Garden sage famed for culinary purposes. While a sage plant is in its prime, it makes an attractive addition to both herb gardens and ornamental borders.
Basics
- Ease of Growing
- Easy
- Grown as
- Perennial
- Growing Habit
- -
- Hardiness
- Half Hardy
Sage is a hardy plant and can take cold temperatures but does not do very well in extremely cold climates.
- Crops
- Spring Transplant, Spring
- Growing Season
- Short, Long
- Cultivar Type
- -
- Growing Conditions
- Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot
Sage originated in the Mediterranean and prefers mild winters and warm summers. It must have well drained soil in order to do well.
- Outdoor Growing Temp
- 55°F - 90°F
- Min Outdoor Soil Temp
- 45°F
Don't plant outdoors in Spring until danger of frost has passed and soil is at least 45˚F.
- Start Indoors
- Yes
- Start Outdoors
- Yes
- Light
- Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot)
This Mediterranean herb loves full sun, though in very hot climates it will also grow in partial shade.
- Water
- Low
Sage is a very drought tolerant plant and is probably more often harmed by too much water, rather than too little.
In very dry areas it will be more productive if watered occasionally.
- Feeder
- Light
Sage will grow in any well-drained soil, it doesn't need to be very fertile.
- Suitability
- Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, High heat
- Small Gardens?
- Yes
- Containers?
- Yes
Sage is an excellent candidate for container growing. Choose a pot that is a minimum of 8" deep and 8" in diameter. Make sure that there is at least one drainage hole in your container. Fill with potting soil and fertilize with compost. Water thoroughly and place in a sunny location. Water again when the soil gets dry.
- Attracts beneficial insects?
- Yes
- Color
- Sage green
- Fruit Size
- -"
- Plant Height
- 24.0-30.0"
- Plant Diameter
- 10.0-15.0"
- Hardiness Zone
- 4-9
- Disease Resistance
- -
- Taste Profile
Sweet and deliciously savory.
