Sage
In the USA, plants of other genera such as Artemisia are often known as "Sages". These will be found under their appropriate genera and not in this section. Salvias generally require full sun, alkaline soil and good drainage, many are not fully hardy but make attractive conservatory plants. Most are edible to a greater or lesser extent. Although some are sufficiently beautiful to warrant a place in the ornamental border, it is their culinary and medicinal attributes that have earned them their place in history. Their anti-oxidant properties are currently being researched in the context of Alzheimers
The following plants are available to buy from Arne Herbs Nursery. Please contact us or call +44 (0) 1275 333 399 to confirm stock availability.
| Artemisia ludoviciana Louisiana sage
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| Striking silver foliaged plant for hot dry situations used to season pork. One of the dry garden essentials
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| Artemisia tridentata Sage bush
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| A particularly difficult desert plant about five feet tall, hates soggy English atmosphere, but essential for those re-creating John Wayne movies. Limited availability |
| Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian sage
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| Lovely silvery-white foliage and sweet edible flrs. Strong and interesting fragrance. Delightful small shrub for full sun and well drained spot |
| Phlomis fruticosa Jerusalem sage
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| No smell, no taste, no medicinal virtues, but grown because it is easy in a dry garden and has big yellow flrs which leave lotus root-like seed heads coveted by flr arrangers |
| Salvia apiana White Sage
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| An attractive large felted sage from the American deserts. Ritually used to keep evil spirits at bay. Edible at a pinch |
| Salvia argentea Silver sage
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| Biennial with great big woolley lvs, adored by slugs and gardeners alike so plant in thick gravel in full sun
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| Salvia elegans Tangerine sage
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| Crimson flowered sage with fascinating scent, not hardy but easy nevertheless
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| Salvia guarantica Anise sage
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| Who invents these daft popular names, I don't know. If you want aniseed, buy true Anise, Fennel or Agastache, meanwhile enjoys this for its magnificent oxford-blue flrs. Not fully hardy. Up to 6 ft |
| Salvia jurisicii Feather sage
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| A small per which is genuinely fern-like. Probably has no uses except to amaze the on-looker. Fully hardy so long as it is kept dry in Winter |
| Salvia lavandulifolia Spanish sage
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| Not to be confused with S hispanica, which comes from Mexico, this has narrow glaucous lv and very pretty deep blue flrs, tastes delicious too
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| Salvia leucantha Velvet sage
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| An ethereal Mexican with woolley scented lvs and woolley white-to-mauve flrs. Ideal for those fed up with garish flamboyance of bedding sages (which of course I don't sell) Slightly tender |
| Salvia mellifera Black sage
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| It isn't black, but it does have a very strong and very peculiar smell which appeals to some people and most bees. Quite hardy if given good drainage. Rare in cultivation |
| Salvia microphylla Black currant sage
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| Almost fully hardy. Whether or not you hate the smell, there is no denying the attraction of the scarlet flrs |
| Salvia miltiorhiza Red sage
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| The very rare Chinese medicinal plant
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| Salvia off var icterina Golden variegated sage
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| Form similar to Evesham though less tolerant of extreme conditions and more delicately flavoured, pretty enough for herbaceous border |
| Salvia off var purpurea Purple sage
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| Traditional in sausages, deep purple leaves ensure a welcome wherever it is planted |
| Salvia off var tricolor Tricolor sage
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| Possibly the least hardy of Salvia off varieties, needs excellent drainage and some winter protection. Really rather useless but people like the prettily coloured lvs
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| Salvia off. narrow lf Garden sage
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| Seed raised, more subtly flavoured than above and taller flrs usually blue though can be pink or white |
| Salvia officinalis "Broad leaf" Evesham sage
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| Traditional English stuffing sage, said to never flower, actually tolerates heavy ground. Unsubtle flavour will survive the worst efforts of incompetent cooks |
| Salvia pratensis Meadow Sage
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| Short-lived English per native with very attractive blue flrs, should be planted more often
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| Salvia rutilans Pineapple sage
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| Not hardy, tall, Scarlet flrs and pineapple scent, try stuffing a duck with it (do kill the duck first) |
| Salvia tiliifolia linden leafed sage
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| Attractive and rare sage whose leaves are mixed with barley water to make a refreshing drink in Mexico. Unusual Autumnal blue flrs |
