Common Name: common sage
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Lamiaceae
Zone: 6 to 9
Height: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Spread: 1.00 to 1.50 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Lavender-blue
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
Suggested Use: Annual, Herb
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Colorful, Fragrant
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil
Culture
Grow in average, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Tolerates very light shade, but best in full sun. Plants tend to sprawl, particularly when grown in less than full sun. Wet soils can be fatal.
'Tricolor', unlike the species, is not reliably winter hardy in the St. Louis area where it should be planted in a sheltered location and given winter protection.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Salvia officinalis commonly called sage, is the culinary sage familiar to most cooks. It also has excellent ornamental qualities, however. Variably called culinary sage, common sage or garden sage, this woody-stemmed, semi-shrubby perennial typically grows 1.5-2.5' tall. Features whorls of two-lipped, lavender-blue flowers (to 1 inch long) in short, upright spikes in late spring. Wrinkled, gray-green leaves (to 4" long) are strongly aromatic and are frequently used fresh or dried in cooking as a seasoning. A mint family member that is attractive to bees and butterflies.
The genus name Salvia comes from the Latin word salveo meaning "to save or heal", in reference to the purported medically curative properties attributed to some plants in the genus.
Specific epithet refers to the plant's real or supposed medicinal properties and was sold in shops.
'Tricolor' is perhaps grown primarily for its ornamental qualities (tricolor foliage), but it also has culinary properties. It is a compact, shrubby perennial which typically grows 1-1.5' tall and features wrinkled, oblong leaves (to 4" long) which are marbled with grayish-green, white and purple and edged with pink. Leaves are strongly aromatic and may be used fresh or dried in cooking.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to root rot in consistently moist or wet soils. Taller plants tend to sprawl and may need some support if grown as ornamentals in the border.
Uses
Mix with perennials in borders or rock gardens. Excellent in herb or vegetable gardens.