Sages - Salvia speciesSage is the herb of wisdom, knowledge, and good health. Over 400 hundred varieties of Salvia are found around the globe, many of them useful medicinal, culinary, or aromatic herbs. All sages thrive in good light and excellent drainage. Pay particular attention to drainage if you have container grown sages as they will not tolerate soggy soil. Sages can be spectacular flowering herbs with a very wide palette of colors. The familiar Garden Sage is a classic used mostly in cooking, but Sages deserve experimentation : fruit scented varieties such as Pineapple Sage are great for tea and simply smelling; Blue Sage & White Sage are important sacred herbs used in Native American smudging rituals. Many of the Sages need to be wintered indoors, and do so easily given a sunny location.
Sage, Berggarten S. officinalis 'Berggatten'Perennial (zone 3 to 4)
Much more attractive than common Garden Sage, with wide, round leaves and grey-blue coloration. Comes from Berggarten Mansion in Germany. Reliably hardy for cooler climates. Warm Sage aroma and flavour.
Sage, Blue S. clevelandiiTender Perennial
An incredible, silvery leaved Salvia with very aromatic leaves. Both beautiful and perfumy, the aroma is sweeter than common sage. Blue flowers. Great dried.
Sage, Clary S. sclareaBiennial
A tall variety, reaching 4 feet. Used medicinally for eye problems, the name originally being 'clear-eye'. Large, fuzzy leaves. Used in smudging.
Garden Sage S. officinalisPerennial (zone 4)
Variety most often grown for culinary and medicinal use. Soft, green-grey foliage is delightfully aromatic. Tricolored, golden, and purple leaved varieties are also available.
*Seed only
Fruit Sage S. dorisianaTender Perennial
Stands out, with large velvety leaves shaped like spades. Perfumed of mixed fruit - nice air freshener in a sunny room, or as a tea, or potpourris. Has pink flowers. Very attractive! Pinch to keep bushy, and grow in full sun
Peruvian Sage S. discolorTender Perennial
Striking pot plant, with large blue-green leathery leaves and pure white stems. Grows well indoors and outside, although not winter hardy. Semi trailing habit, best suited for a large container pot. Always an eye catcher! Aroma is a sweet resinous mixture of eucalyptus and fruit. A personal favourite for its ease of culture and outstanding beauty.
Pineapple Sage S. elegansTender Perennial
A must have for beginning or long time herb gardeners! This shrubby sage has intensely pineapple scented leaves which can be added to teas, cold drinks, jellies, or with chicken & pork dishes. Many people just enjoy having one in the home simply to smell. Requires a sunny location. Not hardy in cooler climates, but does well as a house herb if kept pinched back. Bares brilliant scarlet red flowers.
White Sage S. apianaTender Perennial
This is the sage most commonly used in traditional spiritual purification smudgings. Has white leaves and light purple flowers.
Wood Sage, Curled S. sp.Tender Perennial
A compact Sage with unique ruffles on the edges of the green leaves. Not aromatic, but decorative.
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