Salvia officinalis
Nomenclature
Latin NameSalvia officinalis
Common name in English and GermanSage, Echter Salbei
Regional namesSage (English), Garden sage (English), Common sage (English), Culinary sage (English), Sauge officinale (French), Sauge (French), Echter Salbei (German), Gartensalbei (German), Salvia (Italian/Spanish/Catalan), Salvia officinale (Italian), Salvia domestica (Italian), Salvia real (Spanish), Salvia fina (Spanish), Mermasangre (Spanish), Salva (Portuguese), Salva-mansa (Portuguese), Chá-da-Europa (Portuguese), Echte salie (Dutch), Tuinsalie (Dutch), Szałwia lekarska (Polish), Šalvěj lékařská (Czech), Šalvia lekárska (Slovak), Orvosi zsálya (Hungarian), Zsálya (Hungarian), Kryddsalvia (Swedish), Salvie (Danish/Norwegian), Tesalvie (Norwegian), Rohtosalvia (Finnish), Aedsalvei (Estonian), Ārstniecības salvija (Latvian), Vaistinis šalavijas (Lithuanian), Kadulja (Croatian/Bosnian/Slovenian), Žalfija (Serbian/Croatian/Macedonian), Жалфија [Žalfija] (Serbian/Macedonian), Градински чай [Gradinski chay] (Bulgarian), Шалфей лекарственный [Shalfey lekarstvennyy] (Russian), Шавλία лікарська [Shavliya likarska] (Ukrainian), Φασκόμηλο [Faskómilo] (Greek), Αλισφακιά [Alisfakiá] (Greek), מרווה רפואית [Marva refu'it] (Hebrew), مريمية [Maryamiyah] (Arabic), الميرمية [Al-mayramiyya] (Arabic), مریمگلی [Maryam-goli] (Persian), بھوئی تلسی [Bhui tulsi] (Urdu/Bengali), सेज [Sej] (Hindi/Marathi), 药用鼠尾草 [Yàoyòng shǔwěicǎo] (Chinese), 撒尔维亚 [Sā'ěrwéiyà] (Chinese), セージ [Sēji] (Japanese), 세이지 [Seiji] (Korean), Xô thơm (Vietnamese)
Geographic data
Variety’s range of distributionNative to Mediterranean, naturalized worldwide
Crop's center of diversityMediterranean
Provenance and collection data
CollectionMedicinal
Seed sourceCommercial supplier, Spore garden
Cultivation
Life cyclePerennial
Winter hardyWith protection
Months suitable for planting seedsMarch, April, May
Seed startingOutdoor
Days to harvest75
Growth habitSub shrub, Woody herb
Stem orientationAscending
Plant height (cm)60-90
Sun exposureFull sun
Water RequirementsDrought resistant
Soil preferenceWell drained, Neutral to higher pH
Successional communityPioneering, Wood edge, Patchy shrub-land
Potential use in agro-designIts drought tolerance, aromatic foliage, pollinator-attraction, and low maintenance make it valuable in low-water, pollinator-friendly, or companion planting contexts.
Reproduction
PollinationCross pollinating
Reproductive biologyBisexual flower
Likelihood of hybridisationPossible
Use
Consumable partsFlowers, Leaves
Medicinal actionAnti-microbial, Anti-inflamatory
Parts used medicinally and their effectLeaves are often used for sore throats, mouth/gum inflammation (as gargle), digestive upsets, excessive perspiration, to support menopausal symptoms
Gastronomic useUsed for flavor