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Sage
Salvia officinalis
Sage blooms from May through June.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Sage
Plant it in full sun. It prefers low water. It is hardy in USDA zones 4–8. Expect it to reach about 1.6 ft tall and 2 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 2 years.
When to plant Sage
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Sage into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from May to June.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 6 in April.
Good to know about Sage
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Cooking with the leaves is safe. The caution is separate and applies to concentrated sage essential oil and high-dose medicinal preparations, which are rich in neurotoxic thujone. per Regulatory Toxicology
Worth knowing
The same wet, heavy soil that rots the roots is what kills sage over winter. Sharp drainage, not fertility, is the one thing that fixes both. per NC State
Warm-zone hardiness varies
Most sources call sage hardy through zone 8, but Maryland Extension pushes the warm limit to 10b. In the hot, humid Deep South it can be short-lived. per NC State and University of Maryland
Gets woody; replace it
Sage turns woody and unproductive after about 3 to 5 years. Prune lightly each spring but never into bare old wood, which rarely resprouts. Replace or re-layer periodically. per Wisconsin
Colored cultivars are less hardy
The gray-green species is the toughest. Golden, purple and tricolor sages are reliable only to about zone 5 to 6; in cold gardens protect them or grow as annuals. per University of Maryland
Non-toxic and pet-safe
The ASPCA lists sage as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and the leaves and flowers are edible; the musky flowers are best eaten only in small amounts. per ASPCA and NC State
Deer and rabbit resistant
Deer and rabbits leave sage alone. The strongly aromatic, camphor-rich, slightly fuzzy foliage deters browsing, though nothing is deer-proof under severe pressure. per NC State
What pairs well with Sage
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Globe Thistle
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Blazing Star
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Black-Eyed Susan
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Lavender
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into late summer; both are strong pollinator plants; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Sunflower
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Passionflower
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in midsummer as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; climbs to 13 ft behind it, height without the footprint.
Grape Hyacinth
Shares full sun and low water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; both offer pollinator forage, in different months; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border.
Butterfly Bush
Shares full sun and low water; overlaps, then carries the display into early fall; both are strong pollinator plants; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
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Drop this plant onto a 3D plan, see how it fills in, and watch your whole garden bloom across the year.