FoodFood InformationHerbs&Spice
SAGE (Salvia species)
The most familiar species is the 2 foot tall shrubby perennial Salvia officinalisor garden sage. Its gray green leaves are shaped like elongated ovals, 1-2inches long-and have a coarse surface covered with small bumps. The flowersappear on tall spikes and are usually violet-blue. The variety 'Tricolor'has leaves variegated with white and purple red; 'Golden sage' has yellowvariations on the edges of the leaves; and purple sage
has deep reddish purple foliage.
Two other familiar herb garden species are pineapple sage (S. gracilistyla)and clary sage (S. sclarea). Pineapple sage is a 2-3 foot tender perennialwith deliciously fragrant light green leaves and scarlet flowers in thefall. Clary sage-often grown for its pretty flowers, is biennial and haslarge, 6-7 inch leaves that become smaller as they approach the ends ofthe stems. It is the tallest of the three species and reaches 3-4 feet.
Garden sage was highly valued for its medicinal qualities and was said tocure ailments ranging from broken bones and wounds to stomach disordersand loss of memory. It was said of this herb, "How can a man die withsage growing in his garden?" Clary sage was thought to cure eye infectionsand cataracts and was called "clear eye" after the custom of namingplants according to the parts of the body they were supposed to cure. Theleaves of clary sage were also fried in batter, like fritters, and eatenwith lamb.
Sage likes poor but well drained soil and full sun. It is fairly droughtresistant. Over watering-especially from the top-may cause serious mildewproblems. Cut back the stems after blooming. If you cut frequently for theleaves, fertilize plants occasionally with a well balanced fertilizer. Youcan grow new plants of all three species from seeds, and garden and pineapplesages from layers and stem cuttings; renew plants every 3 or 4 years.
Use the fresh or dried leaves with lamb, meat stuffing, sausage, cheese,and roast goose. Sages have been used in making beer and ale, as mouth washesand tooth cleansers, and to stimulate hair growth. Pork and roast goosewere not considered well cooked unless sage had been used in preparing them.