Common sage

Profile

Family

Lamiaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

0.6 m

Spread

0.6 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

10 years

First yield

after 2 years

Hardiness

zone 5–9

Shade tolerance

full sun

Soil

Sand, Silt

Soil moisture

very dry – very moist

pH

7 – 8.1

Uses

Edible: Leaves and flowers – raw or cooked. This widely used herb, with its strongly aromatic leaves, is used to season foods. It aids digestion and therefore goes well with strong, fatty dishes. Savoury dishes are given a sausage-like flavour by it. Young leaves and flowers can be used raw, cooked, pickled or in sandwiches. The flowers are also suitable as a garnish for salads, lending them colour and fragrance. A herbal tea is made from fresh or dried leaves, said to aid digestion. The essential oil obtained from the plant is used industrially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods etc.

Medicinal: Sage has a long history of effective medicinal use and is an important household remedy for digestive complaints. Its antiseptic properties make it an effective gargle, which can relieve sore throats, ulcers etc. Leaves applied to an aching tooth can also bring relief. The whole herb is anti-hydrating, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, bile-flow-stimulating, lactagogue, stimulating, tonic and vasodilator. Sage is also taken internally to treat excessive milk flow, night sweats, increased salivation (as in Parkinson's), heavy sweating (as in tuberculosis), anxiety, depression, female infertility and menopausal complaints. Many herbalists believe that the purple-leaved forms of this species possess stronger medicinal effects. This remedy should not be given to pregnant women or people with epilepsy. The plant is toxic in high doses or with prolonged use – the toxic dose, however, is very high. Externally it is used to treat insect stings, skin, throat, mouth and gum inflammations as well as vaginal discharge. The leaves are best harvested before flowering and dried for later use. The essential oil of the plant is used in small doses to loosen stubborn mucus in the airways and in liniments to treat rheumatism. In higher doses, however, it can trigger epileptic seizures, dizziness etc. The essential oil finds application in aromatherapy. Its key word is 'tonic'.

Other uses: The leaves are excellent for cleaning the teeth. Simply rub the upper side of the leaf over teeth and gums. The purple-leaved sage variety has firmer leaves and is therefore better suited for tooth cleaning. The leaves are antiseptic and can soothe gum inflammations. An essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, in hair shampoos (particularly good for dark hair) and as a food flavouring. It is a very effective fixative in perfumes, is also used to flavour toothpaste and is added to bioactivating cosmetics. The plant (or the flowers?) is an alternative ingredient of the herbal compost activator 'QR'. This is a dried and powdered mixture of various herbs which can be added to the compost heap to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten composting time. The growing or dried plant is said to repel insects and is particularly useful when grown between cabbage and carrots. It used to be used as a strewing herb and burnt to disinfect rooms. A good, dense ground cover plant for sunny sites, although it must be weeded regularly during the first one or two years. The optimal planting distance is about 60 cm in all directions.

Growing

Requires a very well-drained, light, sandy soil in a sunny position. Chalky soils are preferred. Sage does not tolerate heavy or acid soils. It also thrives on dry soils and is drought-tolerant once established. Excessive winter wetness can damage sage, and shrubs planted in winter often die. Sage is a very decorative plant and is often grown in the herb garden for culinary and medicinal purposes. There are several cultivars. 'Albiflora' is regarded as the best culinary sage. 'Purpurea' has firmer leaves and is more suitable as a tooth cleaner. The plants should be cut back in late spring to ensure compact growth. After several years they tend to become straggly and should be replaced after about four years. The leaves give off a unique, spicy aroma when crushed. Sage is a good companion for many plants, including rosemary, cabbage and carrots, and is said to repel insects. It is inhibited by wormwood growing nearby and does not get along well with basil, rue or plants from the cucumber and gourd family.

Propagation

Sowing – sow in March/April in a greenhouse. Germination usually occurs within two weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough and plant them out in early summer. In regions where the plant is at the limit of its hardiness, it is recommended to overwinter the plants in the greenhouse during their first winter and to plant them out only in late spring of the following year. Heel cuttings, separated from the parent plant in May and planted directly outdoors, take well. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood (5–10 cm) with a heel, rooted in a cold frame from June to August, are easy. Cuttings of mature wood (7–10 cm) with a heel, rooted in a cold frame in November/December. Layering in spring or autumn. Earth up the plants; the layers root in this soil and can be planted out after 6–12 months.

Origin & habitat

S. Europe.

Dry banks and rocky places, mostly in limestone areas and often where there is very little soil.

Related plants