How to Grow and Care for Common sage

Common sage, also known as Garden sage, Kitchen sage, Culinary sage, Broadleaf sage, Dalmatian sage, Scarlet sage

Common sage is a perennial herb renowned for its culinary and medicinal uses. It thrives in well-drained soil and requires full sun exposure. A key special care point for common sage is avoiding overwatering, as it prefers dry conditions and can suffer from root rot if the soil is kept too moist. Pruning to promote dense growth is also essential. Given its basic requirements and resilience to pests, common sage is considered easy to care for.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Common sage

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	Spring
Hardiness Zones	6-9

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Varieties of Common sage

Common sage 'Tricolor'

Common sage 'Tricolor' is a popular ornamental cultivar bred from the Common sage plant. This cultivar's most distinguishing characteristic is its leaves – they sport a beautiful, multi-colored marbled pattern, which usually includes shades of green, pink, white, and purple. Like other sages, common sage 'Tricolor' can also be used in cooking, although this version was bred specifically for appearances, not flavor.

Golden Sage

Golden Sage is a popular plant in herb gardens where it is often used by chefs as a seasoning. The gold-colored variegation on the leaves sets the plant apart from other species in the genus. The colorful foliage is also why the plant is commonly called Golden Sage.

Purple sage

Where its parent, common sage, has green leaves, purple sage instead features two-colored foliage with green leaves at the bottom of a stem capped by distinctive deep purple leaves. This is a deeply aromatic perennial shrub that graces gardens with both color and a delightful smell. It grows best in full sunlight and has attractive blue flowers.

Common sage 'Icterina'

Common sage 'Icterina' is distinct for its short, variegated leaves and two-lipped, blue-purple flowers. A cultivar of Salvia officinalis, its name derives from the word “icterine,” meaning “yellowish.” Gardeners appreciate this cultivar's leaves for their ornamental value and their faint, delicate aroma.

Common Pests & Diseases

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More General Info About Common sage

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Quickly Identify Common sage

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Common sage is characterized by its bushy, spreading growth habit, and it matures into a semi-woody perennial that stands roughly 2 feet (60 cm) tall and spreads 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) wide. Young stems are distinctly square in shape and evolve to a woodier texture as they age. The plant is easily recognized by its aromatic, fuzzy, textured, grayish-green leaves, which are ovate and arranged oppositely on the stem. These leaves have smooth margins and a soft, velvety feel. Come early summer, common sage produces attractive whorls of two-lipped, bluish-lavender flowers on upright spikes, which are known to attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees. The resulting fruit consists of small seed pods harboring tiny round seeds, which may be brown or black.