Botanical Name: Salvia sclarea
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Common Name: Clary Sage  
Plant photo of: Salvia sclarea
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Perennial, Annual, Biennial, Herb

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

Blue, Pink, Violet, White

 

Flower Season

Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Loam, Rocky

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Invasive

Design Styles

English Cottage, Mediterranean, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

n/a

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer

 

Location Uses

Perennial Border

 

Special Uses

n/a

 

Attracts Wildlife

Hummingbirds, Butterflies

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

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.