Practical
Plants

Salvia officinalis

Sage

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Salvia genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Genus
Salvia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked[13][5][23][26][27]. A very common herb, the strongly aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods[10]. They are an aid to digestion and so are often used with heavy, oily foods[21]. They impart a sausage-like flavour to savoury dishes. The young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, boiled, pickled or used in sandwiches[10]. The flowers can also be sprinkled on salads to add colour and fragrance[10]. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[10], it is said to improve the digestion[4][18]. An essential oil obtained from the plant is used commercially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods etc[30][10].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves

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.

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[25][33][4][18][7][20]. 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[20]. Many herbalists believe that the purple-leafed forms of this species are more potent medicinally[20]. This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women or to people who have epileptic fits[20]. The plant is toxic in excess or when taken for extended periods[20] - though the toxic dose is very large. Externally, it is used to treat insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal discharge[20]. The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower and are dried for later use[25]. 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[25]. In larger doses, however, it can cause epileptic fits, giddiness etc[25]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Tonic'[19].

Product or use
Antihydrotic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aromatherapy
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Cholagogue
Product or use
Galactofuge
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vasodilator

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves make excellent tooth cleaners[5][18], 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[16]. An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, hair shampoos (it is good for dark hair) and as a food flavouring[5][29][30]. It is a very effective 'fixer' in perfumes[31], and is also used to flavour toothpastes and is added to bio-activating cosmetics[20]. The plant (the flowers?) is an alternative ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator[24]. 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[5][8][14][16]. It was formerly used as a strewing herb[16] and has been burnt in rooms to fumigate them[21]. A good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions, though it needs weeding for the first year or two[12]. They are best spaced about 60cm apart each way[17].

Product or use
Compost
Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Strewing
Product or use
Dental care

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
S. Europe.
Habitat
Dry banks and stony places[2], usually in limestone areas and often where there is very little soil[25].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[9]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, June to August in a frame[32]. Easy. Cuttings of mature wood, 7 - 10cm with a heel, November/December in a cold frame[32]. 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.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[15]. Prefers a calcareous soil[25][5]. Dislikes heavy or acid soils[1][6]. Succeeds in dry soils, tolerating drought once it is established[11]. Sage can be killed by excessive winter wet[15] and winter-planted bushes often die[17]. A very ornamental plant[1], sage is commonly grown in the herb garden for culinary and medicinal purposes. There are some named varieties[9][10]. 'Albiflora' is said to be the best culinary sage[3]. '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[15]. They tend to degenerate after a few years and are best replaced after about 4 years[25]. The leaves emit a unique pungent aroma when pressed[22]. A good companion for many plants, including rosemary, cabbages and carrots[5][8][14][28], 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[5][8][14][28].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩

  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

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  4. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  5. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  6. Simons. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-050-0

    ↩

  7. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  8. Philbrick H. and Gregg R. B. Companion Plants. Watkins 1979-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩

  12. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩

  13. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  14. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  18. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  19. Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9

    ↩

  20. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  21. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2

  22. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  23. Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8

    ↩

  24. Bruce. M. E. Commonsense Compost Making. Faber 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-571-09990-4

    ↩

  25. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  26. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  27. Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980-00-00

    ↩

  28. Hatfield. A. W. How to Enjoy your Weeds. Frederick Muller Ltd 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-584-10141-4

    ↩1↩2

  29. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  30. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  31. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩

  32. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  33. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩

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