How To Grow And Care For Sage

Sage offers you handsome evergreen foliage in the form of a small mounding shrub. Sage is perennial in most areas of the South and comes in colorful selections, including golden, green, white, variegated, tricolor, and purple sage. Not to be confused with flowering salvias, which are ornamental and also called sages, garden sage is used to flavor foods and is essential to many poultry and holiday recipes.

Plant sage after the last frost in a sunny spot with well-draining, sandy soil. It can grow quickly, maturing and spreading to 3 feet tall and wide. Here’s how to grow and care for this versatile herb.

Plant Attributes

Sage Care

Native to the Mediterranean, garden sage forms a sprawling shrub 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Its velvety gray-green color blends well with the deeper greens of perennials or other herbs. It thrives in sunny, humid locations with well-draining soil and does well in rocky or sandy areas. It can take some shade but not wet soil. Give it shelter from the wind. 

Golden sage brightens the garden with yellow-green leaves that are as striking as flowers; it is popularly mixed into an herb or flower border. The darker shade of purple sage blends well with other Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, purple basil, or silver-leafed plants like artemisia.

Light

Sage grows best in a sunny location with well-drained soil. For quickest results, start with purchased transplants in spring or fall.

Soil

Plant sage in well-drained, sandy soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Add sand along with organic matter to clay soil to improve drainage. Sage will not tolerate wet, soggy, or poorly draining soil. Plant it in a container or raised bed if the soil is not well-draining. 

Water

Sage will tolerate drought and poor soil fertility but will produce better with consistent water. Sage likes to dry out occasionally. In the absence of rain, water to keep the area around the root ball moist.

Temperature And Humidity

Sage is a hardy perennial in Zone 7 and north, its leaves lingering on the stems through the winter. But sage usually does not survive the hot, humid summers of Zone 8 and farther south and is grown as a cool-weather annual in these areas.

Fertilizer

Add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil at planting, and fertilize each spring. Add an inch of mulch around but not touching the base to retain moisture and protect the plant from hot temperatures and heavy rain.

Types of Sage

• Tricolor sage (Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor') grows to 15 inches and has gray leaves streaked with purple and white. It has the same flavor as garden sage but is less cold hardy.
• Purple sage (Salvia officinalis 'Purpurea') grows to 2 feet tall with purple leaves. This variety has the same flavor as garden sage but is slightly hardier.
• Dwarf sage (Salvia officinalis 'Compacta') is often used in confined areas and as a winter houseplant. It is a miniature of garden sage, with the same gray-green color and traditional flavor, and grows eight inches tall. Dwarf sage performs better in Southern gardens and is more attractive year-round than garden sage.
• 'Berggarten' sage (Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten') is a selection that performs especially well in the South. Its large, round leaves are more flavorful than common sage.
• Golden sage (Salvia officinalis 'Aurea') is popular as an ornamental and grows to 15 inches with yellow-edged leaves.
  

Pruning

The foliage of sage looks lifeless through winter and into spring, so prune plants each year in early spring. Because sage is woody, cut out the oldest growth to help stimulate new growth. In late spring, spikes of pinkish purple flowers will appear.

How To Propagate Sage

Sage becomes very woody after about five years and its harvest decreases. Propagating is an easy way to start new plants in your garden. Sage is propagated by stem cuttings and can be done anytime during the growing season. Here’s how to propagate sage from cuttings:

1. Using clean pruners, cut a 4- to 6-inch piece of softwood stem, not an older woody stem.
2. Remove any foliage from the bottom half of the stem as well as any flowers.
3. Dip the cut stem end into rooting hormone.
4. Plant in a small container filled with moistened potting mix, such as a mixture of peat moss, sand, and perlite.
5. Place the cutting in bright, indirect light and keep the soil moist.
6. After about three weeks when the stem has new growth and resists when lightly tugged, transplant to the garden.

How To Grow Sage From Seed

To grow transplants from seed, start indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost, and set out transplants when the ground is warm. Or sow seeds directly in the garden after the danger of frost is past, planting them about 1/4 inch deep. Keep the soil moist, making sure it doesn't get soggy. Seedlings should appear in two to three weeks. Thin or transplant once the seedlings have developed two or three sets of leaves.

Potting and Repotting

Sage can grow in a container as long as it does not become waterlogged. Clay pots work well because they dry out quickly. Use one that’s 8 inches wide and deep with drainage holes. Add a well-draining potting mix with sandy soil. Transplant to a larger pot with fresh soil when you begin to see roots growing through the drainage holes.

Overwintering

For sage grown outdoors, add a light layer of mulch around the plant and protect it from harsh wind. Sage grown in a container can be brought indoors for the winter and placed near a window with bright light.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Common garden pests like spider mites, whitefly, and aphids can cause problems. Treat infestations with insecticidal soap.

Diseases are not typically a problem for sage, but they can occur. Sage is susceptible to rot and powdery mildew, which are caused by soil that is too moist. Keep plants thinned to provide good air circulation and don’t overwater to prevent these issues. Even then, sage may succumb to humidity in midsummer.

Sage Harvesting, Storage, and Use

Lightly harvest plants the first year and then harvest as needed year-round; frequent harvesting helps keep the plant shapely. Pinch one leaf at a time, or cut an entire stem for a larger harvest. Allow two months between the last harvest and the first frost to ensure that new growth will have time to mature in winter.

Use sage fresh, dried, or frozen. To dry sage, hang stems in bunches; when leaves are dry, strip them from the stem and store. If you plan to use sage in dried herb arrangements, let the flowers remain on the plant to develop an attractive pod before you harvest.

Common Problems with Sage

Sage is an easy-going, easy-to-grow herb that doesn’t have too many problems other than environmental or care issues. If your plant has yellowing or drooping leaves, here’s what you can do:

Leaves Turning Yellow

If your sage plant’s leaves are turning yellow, it is most likely getting too much water. It prefers sunny locations with well-draining soil. If the soil is too moist, let it dry out.

Drooping Leaves

Leaves that hang lifelessly indicate care issues. Both overwatering and underwatering can cause drooping leaves. Check the soil’s moisture to see whether you should let the soil dry out or give the plant a drink. You may need to adjust the plant’s exposure to the sun. If it’s too hot, the leaves will droop, and colder temperatures can also cause drooping. Grow sage in a bright spot out of hot afternoon sun.