Botanical profile

Sage

Latin name
Salvia officinalis
Common name
Sage
Type
Perennial
Family
Lamiaceae

Sage is a perennial aromatic plant highly valued for its grayish-green, slightly downy foliage with a powerful, resinous scent. Indispensable in cooking, it adds a warm, herbaceous, and slightly peppery flavor to meats, poultry, stuffings, sauces, roasted vegetables, potatoes, pasta, flavored butters, and stews. Its decorative foliage and compact habit also make it an excellent plant for herb gardens, sunny borders, rock gardens, and patio containers.

Easy to grow, sage prefers a full sun, warm, well-ventilated location in light, poor to moderately fertile, and very well-drained soil. It tolerates heat and drier periods well once established but does not tolerate excess water, especially in heavy or poorly drained soil. Light pruning after flowering or in spring helps maintain a dense, compact, and well-branched plant. Its leaves can be harvested fresh as needed or dried for prolonged use in cooking.

Both aromatic, decorative, and useful for pollinators, sage produces spikes of purple, bluish, pink, or white flowers depending on the variety. It pairs very well with thyme, rosemary, lavender, oregano, santolina, and other full-sun plants. It is an essential herb for gardeners looking for a robust, fragrant, drought-resistant plant perfect for creating a gourmet garden with a Mediterranean style.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Essential grey-green aromatic foliage for cooking and very decorative
Vegetable garden, herbs, border, rock garden, container, Mediterranean cuisine
Container growing
Excellent container culture in a well-drained pot
Seasonal care
Lightly prune after flowering to maintain a compact shape; avoid waterlogged soils; cut back dead wood in spring
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Zone 4 and above
Exposure
Full sun
Watering
Moderate; allow the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings
Humidity
Low to medium humidity; prefers well-drained soil
Fertilization
Light compost in the spring; avoid over-fertilizing
Soil type
Light to medium soil, dry to fresh and very well-drained
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Minimum temperature
-30°C
Propagation method
Cuttings, sowing or division
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Late spring to summer
Flower color
Blue mauve to violet
Foliage color
Grayish green
Foliage type
Semi-persistent
Shape
Compact, semi-woody, bushy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 inches)
Width
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Growth rate
Average growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Rosemary, thyme, lavender, oregano
Plants to avoid
Cucumbers
Spacing
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Harvest period
Spring to Autumn Leaves
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

Butterflies
Plants that attract butterflies

Butterflies

Repellent
Helps repel certain pests

Repellent

Deer
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer

Deer

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.