Sage: flowers, leaves, benefits & problems
Common sage (Salvia officinalis) is a versatile herb that is easy to grow at home. Learn all about sage, its characteristics and benefits.
Sage has been an indispensable herb for centuries, in both the kitchen garden and the medicine cabinet. Not only that, but many species of Salvia are cultivated as spectacular ornamental plants whose blooms also attract a host of pollinators to your garden.
Sage: origin and characteristics
Sage (Salvia officinalis) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, along with other garden herbs such as rosemary and thyme. Although sage has Mediterranean origins, it is now found throughout most parts of the world in both wild and cultivated forms. Common sage forms a perennial, evergreen shrub with many stems that tend to become woody over time.
The plant can reach 1m in height and width. Sage bears aromatic leaves of varying size and shape, depending on the species. The leaves are often grey-green but can also be purple, silver or variegated. Sage leaves appear rather velvety, despite the coarse texture on their upper surface where the oil glands are located.
A common sage bush flowers in mid- to late summer. It produces racemes of violet-blue blooms, whilst the wide variety of ornamental salvias offer delicate sage flowers in every imaginable hue. You can enjoy their beautiful foliage all year round as many salvia varieties are extremely cold tolerant. Find out more about how to look after sage in winter in our dedicated article.
Sage benefits and uses
If you are still wondering how to use sage, you will find a big clue in its Latin name. Salvia comes from ‘salvare’ meaning ‘to heal’, whilst officinalis indicates the tradition of medicinal and culinary use. Throughout history, sage was believed to heal all manner of curious ailments. Today, much commercially grown sage is used to produce essential oils and supplements. Sage is thought to have anti-inflammatory benefits and to ease respiratory, digestive and menopausal complaints. Try steeping fresh or dried sage leaves in hot water to make a refreshing and invigorating sage tea. The slightly bitter taste indicates its astringent and antiseptic properties, which also make it a soothing gargle for sore throats and a natural mouthwash to support good dental health.
In the kitchen, sage leaves are frequently added to meat and fish dishes. Classic combinations also include sage, garlic and white beans or the irresistible sage and pumpkin gnocchi. The flavours of sage leaves are best released by gentle heating in a fat such as butter or olive oil. Sage flowers are also edible and make a great and colourful addition to a salad. Although burning sage during cooking is not recommended, white sage leaves (Salvia apiana) are used as a fragrant incense and burnt for their purifying effects around the home. Learn more about this lovely, light variety of sage in our article on how to grow, care for and use white sage.
Tip: as with many foods, a moderate intake is best. Sage contains thujone and camphor, which can be toxic when consumed in extremely high doses. Women are advised to avoid consuming sage during pregnancy.
Problems, pests and diseases
As a Mediterranean plant, sage will thrive in sheltered, dry and sunny conditions, and in nutrient-poor soil. Overwatering will lead to wilting, root rot and yellow leaves in sage plants. To maintain enough air around the roots of your potted sage, use a free-draining compost, such as our Plantura Organic Herb and Seedling Compost. It has a loose structure and a lower nutrient value than other composts and will help to prevent waterlogging. To learn more about correct sage care, read our specialist article.
- Perfect for herbs as well as sowing, propagating & transplanting
- For aromatic herbs & healthy seedlings with strong roots
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Rosemary beetle (Chrysolina americana) and capsid bugs (Miridae) have been known to cause minor leaf damage to salvias but this can usually be controlled by simply pinching off the affected leaves. When it comes to disease, mildews can occasionally be a problem for sage. Mildews are quite common in herb and vegetable gardens, and symptoms and control methods are similar. We explain how to identify and treat white mould in our in-depth article on powdery mildew in courgettes. Overall, sage is a delightfully low-maintenance herb and rarely suffers from pests or disease.
Sage and courgettes share something else in common. They both have flowers that you can eat! Find out what other flowers you can eat in our article on edible flowers.
