How to grow sage

Sage (Salvia) is an attractive, drought-tolerant, easy-to-grow shrubby plant with aromatic, evergreen leaves that are often soft and downy. It also produces pretty flowers in mid- to late summer. This Mediterranean herb likes full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, in pots or free-draining soil, and should live for many years with minimal maintenance.  
 
There are many different types of sage, some grown as herbs for their edible, aromatic leaves, and others (usually known as salvias) as ornamental plants for their attractive flowers.  
 

Sage, Salvia officinalis 'Berggarten'

Sage, Salvia officinalis 'Icterina'

Common sage (Salvia officinalis) makes an attractive addition to warm, sunny borders, herb beds and veg plots, and grows well in containers. Being evergreen and hardy, it provides a year-round presence and can be harvested at any time, although the fresh young leaves are best.
 
There are several attractive varieties to choose from too, including the popular purple-leaved ‘Purpurascens’ and yellow-leaved ‘Icterina’, which adds a bright splash of colour. These three have an RHS Award of Garden Merit, which shows they are easy and reliable to grow. There are more varieties too, with various aromas, leaf colours and flower colours, including tricolour sage, with cream-and-green variegated leaves tinted with pink. 
 
You can explore a wide range of herbs, including sage, in all the RHS gardens, so do visit them for more herbal inspiration and growing tips.

Sage is usually grown from bought plants, but you can also grow it from seeds or cuttings indoors, although these take longer to reach harvesting size.

Choose a planting site in full sun, sheltered from strong winds. The soil should be free-draining and never get waterlogged. If your soil is poorly-drained, plant in a raised bed or a container to provide better drainage.
 
Prepare the ground by removing any weeds, then dig in plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost. If planting in a container, choose one that is at least 30cm (12in) wide and fill it with a peat-free soil-based compost, mixing in lots of coarse grit or perlite (up to 25 percent by volume) to improve drainage.
 
Sage should ideally be planted in spring, although potted sage can be planted right through to autumn but avoid hot dry spells. Water it well both before and after planting.

Sage is very easy to look after – simply harvest sprigs of young leaves regularly to encourage bushy new growth and cut back flowered stems by a third after flowering to keep plants compact.

Sage, Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens'

Sage. Salvia officinalis

As sage is evergreen, the leaves can be picked at any time of year, but fresh growth in spring and early summer has the best flavour. You can pick whole young shoots or individual leaves as required.
 
To ensure the leaves remain in good condition over winter, protect them from the worst of the weather with fleece or move plants in containers into a sheltered location.
 
The leaves are best used fresh, but you can also dry or freeze them.
 
To dry sage, hang up some sprigs in a warm, dark, well-ventilated place. When fully dried, store the leaves in an air-tight jar.
 
Freeze chopped sage leaves in an ice-cube tray, then simply add the cubes to your cooking whenever needed.

Sage is generally robust, hardy and healthy, living for many years. Just make sure it has a warm, sunny location and free-draining soil/potting compost that doesn’t get waterlogged.
 
The leaves can be damaged by rosemary beetles, sage leafhopper and capsid bugs, but these don’t generally cause severe problems so control isn’t necessary. Simply pick off any affected leaves if you wish.