Name:
Sage
Salvia officinalis

How many plants for average family:
1 or 2 plants per garden

Type of plant:
Evergreen perennial shurb

Best Varieties:
Common/Garden sage - Salivia officinalis
Pineapple sage - S. elegans, S. rutilans
Golden/Variegated - S. officianalis 'Variegata'
Purple sage - S.officianalis Purpurea Group, or
S. x superba
Clary sage - S. sclarea

Sowing:
Seed can be sown in spring in in trays or punnets or take cuttings in spring or fall. Sage can also be layered by anchoring down lower stems into the soil below.

Growing Habit:
Small bushy shrub to 1metre (3 ft) high becoming woody with age.

Growing Conditions:
Sage grows naturally in mediterranean climates so make sure drainage is good in the garden or raise beds to improve soil conditions. This plant grows well in pots and can be moved to warmer locations in winter. Sage will tolerate cooler conditions but will not handle dampness.

Compost and manure at planting will give good growth. Prune the plant after flowering to keep it compact and bushy. Sage is best replaced about every 5 years because it becomes woody with age.

Companions:
Beans, cabbage, carrots, parsnip, peas, rosemary, roses and strawberries.

Avoid cucumber, rue and wormwood.

Problems:
Will not tolerate damp or clay soils.
Fungal problems result in poor drainage.
Also prone to root rot and bacterial wilt.
Red spider mites can attack foliage.

Uses:
Sage is used for cosmetic hair rinses and and in pot pourri. Sachets of dried sage can be hung among clothes to keep moths and silverfish away.

Purple sage is also said to have better medicinal qualities when used as a tea for mouth ulcers and respiratory diseases.

In the garden, sage is a good companion plant to deter cabbage moth. It is also an attractive border plant with pretty flowers attracting bees.

Sage is a strong plant used to flavour casseroles, creamy sauces, vinegars and butters. Pineapple sage goes well with citrus dishes and colourful flowers are edible and attractive in salads.

Featured Article:

Sage Tea  

by Herb Mark

Description of Sage Tea
To the ancients, including the Arabians, Sage (salvia officinalis) was associated with longevity and was highly prized. The genus name derives from the Latin for salvation . In early Dutch trading days, the Chinese preferred Sage tea to their own native tea, and gave traders up to four times the quantity of their choicest tea in exchange. The American Indians used it both topically and internally for its health benefits. Sage is often used today as a spice for flavoring vegetables, chicken, meats, fish, and eggs. Sage is a heartening brew, if not made too strong. It can be sweetened with maple syrup, brown sugar or honey, or flavored with a squeeze of orange, lemon or a dash of cinnamon.

Ingredients of Sage Tea
Sage (salvia officinalis).

Suggested Use for Sage Tea
The best way to make a good tasting cup of tea is by the infusion method. Place one tea bag into a cup and add no more than 6 oz. of boiling water. Let steep for 3 minutes and remove the bag. Press the bag before removing to enhance the flavor. Add honey to sweeten.

Additional Information for Sage Tea
Since 1922. Alvita has been making the finest herb teas money can buy. Pure, natural singles and blends that bring you unsurpassed enjoyment, healthful benefits and complete satisfaction. No less reassuring is our unwavering commitment to the environment. Today, no herb tea company goes as far to protect the Earth and its precious resources--this package and its contents being testimony. There is no plastic shrink wrap on the outside. The box is 100% recycled board that can be recycled again. The finish is water-based. Our tea bags are English Pillow Style, with no strings, tags or staples attached. Even the tea bag paper is recyclable. And all our bags are oxygen bleached, not chlorine bleached, to safeguard you and our ground water. Degradable. Recyclable. Reusable. The key component of each is the word able . At Alvita, we wholeheartedly believe we are all able to play a key role in preserving the wondrous world we live in. For us, it starts with offering you the most environmentally safe and responsible herb teas possible.

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