Botanical profile

Sage 'Tricolor'

Latin name
Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor'
Common name
Sage 'Tricolor'
Type
Perennial aromatic herb
Family
Lamiaceae

Sage ‘Tricolor’ is a very decorative perennial herb, valued for its variegated foliage of green, cream, and purplish-pink. Its bright and colorful appearance adds a lot of charm to herb gardens, sunny borders, rock gardens, and patio containers. Like classic sage, it has a warm, herbaceous, and slightly peppery fragrance, ideal for flavoring meats, poultry, stuffings, sauces, roasted vegetables, potatoes, pasta, and stews.

Easy to grow, ‘Tricolor’ sage prefers a full sun to lightly partial shade 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 excessive water, especially in heavy or poorly drained soils. Light pruning in spring or after flowering helps maintain a denser, more compact, and well-branched plant, while stimulating the production of new colorful foliage.

Both aromatic, ornamental, and beneficial for pollinators, ‘Tricolor’ sage is perfect for creating a gourmet garden with a more refined style. Its variegated foliage pairs very well with thyme, rosemary, lavender, oregano, santolina, and silver or purplish foliage. It is an excellent herb for gardeners looking for a robust, fragrant, drought-resistant, and very decorative plant both in pots and in the ground.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Very decorative and edible aromatic tricolor foliage
Vegetable garden, herbs, decorative border, rock garden, container, Mediterranean cuisine
Container growing
Excellent in pots in a well-drained container
Seasonal care
Prune lightly 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 5
Exposure
Sun
Watering
Moderate; allow the soil surface to dry out slightly between waterings
Humidity
Low to medium humidity; prefers well-drained soil
Fertilization
Light compost in spring; avoid excessive fertilizer
Soil type
Light to medium soil, dry to cool and very well drained
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Minimum temperature
-20 °C
Propagation method
Cuttings or division
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Late Spring to Summer
Flower color
Bluish-mauve to purple
Foliage color
Grayish-green variegated with cream and purplish-pink
Foliage type
Semi-persistent
Shape
Compact, semi-woody, bushy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 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
Leaves from spring to autumn
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.