Salvia lavandulifolia
Spanish Sage
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Salvia genus in the family Labiatae.
Taxonomy and growth
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The aromatic leaves are used as an adulterant for the common sage[2][4]. They are used as a substitute for sage in commercial food flavourings[7]. A sage-like tea is made from the dried leaves[7]. The plant is a source of an essential oil that is used commercially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods, chewing gum, soft drinks etc[4][7].
- Product or use
- Condiment
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The leaves are alterative, antiseptic, astringent, depurative, digestive, expectorant, febrifuge and tonic[7]. They are used internally in the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints, menstrual problems, infertility, nervous tension and depression[7]. This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women[7]. The leaves can be harvested as required and used fresh, or they can be harvested before the flowers open and dried or distilled for their essential oil[7].
- Product or use
- Alterative
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Astringent
- Product or use
- Depurative
- Product or use
- Digestive
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Tonic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery and to perfume soaps and cosmetics[7].
- Product or use
- Essential
Environment
- Range
- S.W. Europe - Spain.
- Habitat
- Dry hills and slopes amongst bushes.
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 5+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[5]. 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[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[3][5]. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering[1]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5]. It is as hardy as common sage, S. officinalis[3], to which it is closely related[1]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[5]. The leaves have a pungent lavender scent[3]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].
References
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31