Salvia, the genus widely known as sage, is within the family of Lamiaceae, with nearly 1,000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals.
The Salvia / Sage family includes two very widely used kitchen herbs:
- Salvia officinalis, common sage, or just “sage”
- is native to the Mediterranean region, but has since naturalized throughout the world.
- Salvia rosmarinus (formerly Rosmarinus officinalis), rosemary*
- is native to the Mediterranean region, Portugal and Spain.
- Special cultivars like ‘Arp’ can withstand winter temperatures down to about −20 °C (−4 °F).
Other sages we might know are:
- Salvia apiana: white sage*
- native to Southwestern US,
- has white leaves and a distinctive smoke, and is
- sacred to a number of indigenous people and used in their ceremonies,
- Salvia azurea: blue sage
- with its brilliant blue flowers
- is native from Utah to Connecticut.
- Salvia argentea, silver sage
- has soft, large, and luxurious leaves of silver,
- is a biennial or short-lived perennial
- native to southern Europe.
- Salvia yangii, (formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia), commonly known as the Russian sage.
- especially known for its abundant flowers
- is native to southwestern & central Asia,
- and extremely invasive here in the States.
On My Wish List… Any other sages I ought to consider?
- Salvia sclarea: clary sage
- a biennial or short-lived perennial,
- is native to the Mediterranean Basin,
- widely used as a medicinal herb, it is mostly grown for its essential oil.
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* Note that these two listed here are not generally freeze-tolerant. Grow in pots to survive year around in Colorado.
