culinary sage
salvia officinalis

days to maturity: 90 days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours hours
look out for: overwatering causing rotting
harvest notes: prune off whole branches at base
seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer
perennial

Sage is a perennial, evergreen shrub with woody stems, grayish leaves and blue to purplish flowers. Salvia (sage) is the largest member of the mint family, containing over 900 species throughout the world. Culinary sage is the variety that is used in the kitchen and is most commonly found in culinary gardens throughout the Mediterranean and the world. For healthy plants, give your sage plants full sun. In hot zones, USDA 8 or higher, they can handle some afternoon shade, but they need some sun, or a breeze, to dry the dampness off the leaves and prevent rotting. Also water rarely and at the base of the plant. sage is also used as a medicinal herb. Sage is a great herbal tea for sore throats and digestion. Sage can help protect the body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals due to its high antioxidant capacity and anti inflammatory actions.