Sage - Salvia officinalis - €6 per plant 

Salvia officinalis  commonly called sage, is the culinary sage familiar to most cooks. It also has excellent ornamental and ecological qualities with gorgeous purple blooms  much appreciated  by us and the multitude of pollinating insects it attracts.  The plant leaves can be used for teas, dry and fresh and has an extensive history of medical use. The plant needs a sunny position to flourish. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: S. Europe
  • native habitat: Dry banks and stony places[, usually in limestone areas and often where there is very little soil.
  • family: Lamiaceae or Labiatae

Predators

  • no experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun -dappled shade
  • soil pH:  neutral -basic alkaline 
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 4a - 9b
  • Prefers moist soil 
  • Drought tolerant  
  • Sage can be killed by excessive winter wet and winter-planted bushes often die
  • They tend to degenerate after a few years and are best replaced after about 4 years
  •  It is inhibited by Artemesia spp. growing nearby and dislikes growing with basil, rue or the cucumber and squash family

Known hazards 

  • The plant can be toxic when used in excess or when taken for extended periods. Symptoms include: restlessness, vomiting, vertigo, tremors, seizures. Contraindicated during pregnancy. Avoid if predisposed to convulsions

Overview

  • 10 x 12cm plant bag
  • Evergreen Shrub growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.6 m (2ft in). 
  • It is in flower from June to August, and the seeds ripen from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. 
  • Suitable pH: neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
  • It cannot grow in the shade.
  • It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Characteristics

  • form: semi woody evergreen shrub 
  • layer : Herb Layer
  • habit: multi stemed ,vigorous growth 
  • height x width (m): 0.8 x 0.8
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  
  • productive life span:  

Products 

  • Leaf:A very common herb, the strongly aromatic leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods and makes a good tea
  • Medicinal: Has a very long history of effective medicinal use and is an important domestic herbal remedy for disorders of the digestive system
  • A good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions

Functions, behaviours

  • Can flower twice in a season 
  • The flowers are very attractive to bees amongst other pollinaters 
  • The growing or dried plant is said to repel insects, it is especially useful when grown amongst cabbages and carrots
  • The flowers are an alternative ingredient of 'QR' herbal compost activator. 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
  • .A good companion for many plants, including, cabbages and carrots, the growing plant is said to repel insects.
If you would like this plant  please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project