With slightly less flavour, but the most attractive aromatic purple, pink and white leaves, this sage would benefit from a sunny, well drained sheltered site over winter. 9x9cm pot (8cm depth)
Description
- Attractive leaves
- Aromatic
- Evergreen
- Versatile herb
Sage an aromatic evergreen native to the Mediterranean and is a well-known herb, used to impart its strong flavour to many dishes. It has been traditionally used to treat sore throats and mouth inflammations, excess sweating and menopausal symptoms. This lovely variety has three colours on the leaves which make it a very attractive shrub. It is not quite as hardy as other varieties and requires a more of a sheltered position to keep it out of the worst of the cold winter weather.
Plant care
- Height: 60-100cm
- Type: Hardy
- Aspect: Sun
- Soil: Any/alkaline
- Flower colour: Purple
- Flowering period: June - August
An attractive herb to grow, sage looks as good as an ornamental as it does a culinary herb . It forms an evergreen shrub both in pots and in the ground. It likes a sunny sheltered spot if possible and the thing it hates most is wet feet. This is an important aspect when growing in pots - it shouldn't be potted on into pots that are too big and where the roots will end up sitting in acres of wet compost. A good rule of thumb is a container about four centimetres bigger each time. In winter it is beneficial to stand pots on small bricks or blocks so they can drain properly. In the ground it is better in areas with good drainage.
Usage
Sage is native to Southern Europe where it has been used for many hundreds of years as a culinary and medicinal herb. The warm aromatic leaves are used in dishes such as saltimbocca, in stuffing, soups, stews and breads. Sage has antibacterial properties and is an excellent herb for treating coughs and colds, respiratory tract infections, as a gargle for sore throats, mouth ulcers and sore gums. It has anti-sudorific action properties, which means it helps with excess sweating and a tea is helpful for menopausal symptoms.