Salvia Officinalis Sage Drought Tolerant Xeriscaping Herb Plant Seeds

Sage (Salvia Officinalis) - Here's an easy-to-grow from herb seeds addition to the xeriscape garden! The drought tolerant Sage herb has fragrant gray-green leaves and attractive mauve flower spikes in early summer. It's highly attractive to birds, bees and butterflies. Sage has a long history of medicinal and culinary uses. It's most well-known use is in Thanksgiving dressing! It's also a very attractive, evergreen perennial that produces mauve colored flowers during the blooming season. It is an excellent ground cover for edging sidewalks or garden pathways where its attractive foliage and flowers can be appreciated. Many people also dry sage for creating aromatic wreaths and dried flower arrangements. It's such a versatile plant, grow in a xeriscape rock garden or an herb garden.  Its drought tolerance will help you conserve on water.

How To Grow Sage From Herb Seeds: To get a jump start, sow Sage seeds indoors 6 weeks prior to the end of frost season. For areas with a longer growing season, sow Sage herb seeds in well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun after danger of last frost is over. Performs best in rows 18 inches apart. Thin plants to 12 inches apart when they are 2 inches tall.

For maintenance, prune out the woodiest stems and spent flower stalks each spring. To help the drought tolerant plant harden off for the winter, stop harvesting early in the fall. After a few years, Sage herb plants become quite woody and less productive. Plan a year ahead to replace them. Replace plants every 3 - 4 years. To help the Sage plant get established, harvest lightly the first year. For harvesting the second year, leave a few stalks in place to allow the plant to rejuvenate.

Easy To Establish!

How To Grow

Sage seeds should be sown indoors 6 weeks before the last expected frost. Seeds should be surface sown and pressed into soil, but do not cover: light is required for germination. In regions with a long growing season, these seeds can also be started directly outdoors: sow outside after all danger of frost has passed. Use soil that is well-drained and plant in an area of full sun. For maintenance, prune out the woodiest stems and spent flowers stalks each spring. To help the plant harden off for the winter, stop harvesting in early fall.

• Soil: well-drained with pH 6.6-7.8
• Planting depth: press into soil but do not cover
• Plant spacing: rows 18 inches apart

Plant Information

Sage is a beautiful garden herb: it is a perennial that grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. It is excellent at attracting pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This plant should thrive for a few years before becoming less productive.

• Bloom season: summer
• Bloom color: mauve
• Height: 18-30 inches
• Deer resistant: yes