When you begin planning an herb garden, make sure that sage is on the list. Sage is easy to grow and provides many benefits. This plant has a rich history and many forgotten uses.

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Growing

The most common garden sage is Salvia officinalis. Think about Thanksgiving and the sharp, herby aroma of your favorite stuffing, this is culinary sage. Sage is a resilient plant, but does not like temperatures below 20° F. It originates from the Mediterranean, so hot dry climates are best. Most gardeners find that zone 7 and higher is best. I have always done best with cuttings to create new plants. This is a perennial herb that will last for years.  

Rich History

Salvia the Latin root for this remarkable herb is “salvere” to heal or to be saved. In recent times this savior of an herb seems to have been forgotten.

“How can a man grow old who has sage in his garden?” part of a proverb quoted in many countries. Per the site Souledout.org “In the 17^th century it was so valued by the Chinese that Dutch merchants found the Chinese would trade three chests of Chinese tea for one of sage leaves.

Many people know of the use of white sage in smudge sticks to ward off evil spirits. There is some concern about the sustainability of sage (https://unitedplantsavers.org/190-sustainable-smudge-growing-white-sage-canadian-border/) so make sure you know where you source it from.

This versatile herb has been used for centuries to support people of all ages. There are innumerable uses from enhancing a garden all the way to supporting our mental wellness.

Health Benefits of Sage

Sage is a superstar when it comes to the medicinal qualities

It can be used from head to toe. Studies have shown that the aroma can help with short-term memory loss. Using powdered sage in shoes can help with foot fungus and odors. The antibiotic and antiseptic properties support many wound care applications.

Herbalists have used it as an expectorant, to help expel mucus experienced with the common cold. Sage also has anti-inflammatory properties and has been used to treat sore throats and other inflammation within the mouth. Sage does seem to have an affinity for issues related to the head and chest. Creating toothpaste or powder with sage can help with gingivitis.

The stimulant properties help increase circulation which can increase energy and has helped some women experience a decrease in night sweats experienced during menopause. Like rosemary you can create a mist spray of sage in your hair, both herbs may help darken greys for anyone with darker hair.

My Experiences

I have had great success with sage both in ground and in a container. When I first planted my garden, I put sage in a corner with the intention of it being a companion plant. Due to an extremely wet season the first year it grew very large, very quickly. It ended up taking over most of my raised bed. The next spring, I moved it into a container to free up the space. I was nervous that it wouldn’t survive the transplant, but it ended up thriving. Now a year and a half later my sage bloomed with beautiful bee attracting purple flowers.

A couple of years ago The Chew TV show did an episode with a Lemon Sage Turkey that quickly became a favorite in our house. The compound butter used in that recipe has become a constant in my freezer.

Compound Lemon Sage Butter

• 2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1/2 of the fresh sage (minced)
• 1 shallot (finely minced)
• 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
• zest of 1 lemon
• juice of half a lemon
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large bowl, combine room temperature butter, shallot, garlic, minced sage, lemon zest and lemon juice.  Stir together with a rubber spatula.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Sage pairs well in turkey, chicken and pork dishes. It has a slightly pepper taste.

Additional Gardening Tips

Sage is an herb that is great to have in your garden to help repel insects. Cabbage seems to benefit best since it will repel cabbage moths, but it also repels other flying insects. As I shared in my rosemary article creating new starts is easy. Clip off a branch and peel some of the bark off. Roll this spot in cinnamon powder and place in a well-lit window.

Sage is also a good companion plant for carrots and tomatoes. I found having it in a pot has offered the ability to move it around to my different raised beds depending on what I am growing.

Every day I am learning more about the joys of gardening and the benefits of using the things that I can grow to keep my family and I healthy and well fed. I would love to hear about your favorite herb, what do you enjoy most?

Resources:

• The New Age Herbalist, by Richard Mabey
• The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, by Johnny Bowden
• The Aromatherapy Garden, by Kathy Keville