Clary sage is an erect, hairy,branched biennial or perennial herb with large, aromatic, light green, ovate leaves about 9 inches long.The flowers are whorls of bicolored cream and lilac, to pink or blue, with conspicuous lilac bracts that bloom in spring and summer. It can grow up to 3 feet high and to 2 feet wide. The leaves are very aromatic, described as balsam-like. Useful in potpourris, sachets, or for cooking.
Grow in average to poor well drained soil. Fertilizing can result in larger, though less aromatic foliage. It does reseed, and so deadhead if you want to control that sort of thing. Hummingbirds and butterflies enjoy the flowers. In our climate, it is not dependably perennial, though with its reseeding ways, it may always be present in your garden.