Sage
Salvia officinalis
📖 About this plant
Woody perennial herb with soft, gray-green, velvety leaves and a savory, earthy flavor. Essential to stuffing, sausages, and poultry dishes; also used medicinally for centuries.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Low (30-50%)
10-28°C
Well-draining, sandy loam (pH 6.0-7.0); prefers slightly alkaline soil
Minimal; light compost in spring is sufficient
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Mediterranean region
- 📏 Max height
- 30-60 cm (12-24 inches)
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Blue, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Silver-Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans; safe culinary herb. Contains thujone which can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses in large amounts.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Softwood cuttings in spring; division; seed (slow germination)
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic to humans; safe culinary herb. Contains thujone which can be toxic to dogs, cats, and horses in large amounts.
Common issues
- Powdery mildew
- Root rot from overwatering
- Spider mites
- Woody leggy growth needing pruning
💡 Care tips
- Woody perennial with silvery aromatic leaves
- Prune heavily in spring to prevent legginess
- Drought-tolerant once established in the garden
- Use fresh or dried in stuffing and poultry dishes