What hardiness zones is Salvia officinalis suitable for?

Salvia officinalis is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Salvia officinalis?

Salvia officinalis requires Full Sun.

How much water does Salvia officinalis need?

Salvia officinalis has Low water needs.

Herbs

Salvia officinalis

Garden Sage

LamiaceaeMediterranean, southern Europe

At a Glance

TypePerennial

HabitMounding

FoliageEvergreen

Height12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

Width18-30 inches (45-75 cm)

Maturity2 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

4 - 9

Zone 4

Zone 5

Zone 6

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators

Attracts Butterflies

Attracts Hummingbirds

Deer Resistant

Drought Tolerant

Fragrant (strong)

Container Friendly

Maintenancelow

Overview

Salvia officinalis is a woody-based, mounding, evergreen sub-shrub in the mint family (Lamiaceae) reaching 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) tall with an 18–30 inch (45–75 cm) spread. Stems are square at the base (characteristic of Lamiaceae), becoming woody with age, gray-green, softly pubescent. Leaves are opposite, oblong to elliptic, 1–3 inches (2.5–8 cm) long, gray-green, with a finely pebbly (rugose) texture and soft pubescence. The strong camphor-sage aroma is from thujone, camphor, and 1,8-cineole in the essential oil. Flowers are blue-violet to lavender, 0.5–0.8 inch (12–20 mm) long, tubular, two-lipped, in terminal racemes 4–8 inches (10–20 cm) long. The two-lipped corolla with a hooded upper lip is a classic Lamiaceae flower architecture. Plants become woody and leggy after 3–5 years; replacement planting is recommended at that point. Winter wet is the primary cause of death; well-drained soil and Mediterranean-type conditions produce the longest-lived plants. In the Pacific Northwest, sage thrives west of the Cascades in well-drained raised beds.

Native Range

Native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe, occurring on limestone hillsides, garrigue, and dry open ground from sea level to approximately 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Cultivated for at least 2,000 years as a medicinal and culinary herb.

Suggested Uses

Planted in herb gardens, Mediterranean-style gardens, balcony containers, and kitchen windowsill plantings. The essential culinary herb for poultry, stuffing, sausage, butter-sage pasta, and bean dishes. Fresh or dried leaves are used in herbal tea. The gray-green evergreen foliage is a textural contrast in mixed herb gardens. The two-lipped Salvia flower with the lever pollination mechanism is a floral morphology teaching feature. The woody sub-shrub habit demonstrates the semi-woody Lamiaceae growth form.

How to Identify

Distinguished from ornamental Salvia species by the gray-green, pebbly-textured, soft-pubescent foliage with the strong camphor-sage aroma. Distinguished from Artemisia species by the square stems (versus round), the blue-violet flowers (versus inconspicuous greenish), and the sage (versus wormwood) aroma. The crush-and-smell test is definitive: the camphor-sage aroma is immediately recognizable. The pebbly (rugose) gray-green leaf texture and the woody sub-shrub habit distinguish it from other culinary herbs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'

Width/Spread1'6" - 2'6"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

purple

blue

Foliage Colors

gray

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

SpringSummer

Flowers from May through July. Terminal racemes bloom from the base upward over 2–3 weeks. Pollinated by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The two-lipped flowers with a hooded upper lip demonstrate the classic Lamiaceae pollination mechanism (lever mechanism in Salvia). Deadheading spent flower stalks encourages compact regrowth.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue-violet to lavender

Foliage Description

Gray-green, oblong to elliptic, finely pebbly (rugose) texture, soft-pubescent; strongly aromatic with camphor-sage scent

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsandchalk

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant nursery starts or rooted cuttings in spring, spacing 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) apart in full sun with well-drained soil. Raised beds or gravel mulch improve drainage. Drought-tolerant once established; overwatering and winter wet cause root rot and premature death. Harvest stems throughout the growing season, cutting 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of stem tips. In the Pacific Northwest, sage is evergreen and provides year-round harvest. Plants become woody and unproductive after 3–5 years; replace with new plants propagated from stem cuttings or layering. Container culture (3+ gallon) is standard for balcony and windowsill herb gardens.

Pruning

Cut back by one-third in early spring (March–April) to stimulate bushy new growth — cut into green wood only, not into bare woody stems (old wood does not regenerate). Remove spent flower stalks after bloom. Light harvest-pruning throughout the growing season maintains compact form.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 3 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

transplant

Indoor Start

8 weeks before last frost

Days to Maturity

75–90 days

Plant Spacing

18 inches