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Salvia (Latin name used as far back as Pliny, meaning to be well or healthy, referring to the medicinal properties of some species). Labiatae. Sage. Herbs, subshrubs, and shrubs, certain of which are of economic use, such as sage and clary, while others are grown for ornament both indoors and out.

Salvia (Latin name used as far back as Pliny, meaning to be well or healthy, referring to the medicinal properties of some species). Labiatae. Sage. Herbs, subshrubs, and shrubs, certain of which are of economic use, such as sage and clary, while others are grown for ornament both indoors and out.

The most widely used of all salvias cultivated for ornament is Salvia splendens, or scarlet sage. This is one of the most brilliant red-flowered bedding plants in cultivation. It is generally grown in large masses. It does best in full sunshine, but may be used in shady places to light up dark woody recesses. It should have a dark background of some kind by way of contrast. A well-managed mass of scarlet sage may be maintained in full splendor from the middle of July to frost. It is propagated by either cuttings or seed. It is rather troublesome to keep cuttings or plants over winter, as they are particularly liable to attacks of aphis and red-spider. It is, therefore, important to get seed of an early-blooming variety of compact habit, and to sow the seed early indoors or in a frame in time to get good plants to set outdoors in May. A good raceme is over a foot long, with 30 or more flowers in a raceme, and 2 to 6 flowers in a whorl, each flower being 2 inches or more long. Some varieties have erect racemes, others pendulous, and there are white varieties, together with some intermediate colors. A poorly managed bed of scarlet sage gives a few flowers in September and is cut off in a short time by frost. Wet seasons delay the bloom, and, if the soil is too rich in nitrogen, the plants will make too much growth and the flowers will be late and relatively few. The same principles of cultivation apply to other tender salvias used for bedding. Florists sometimes lift a few plants of scarlet sage before frost, pot them and find that they make attractive plants under glass for a month or two. One advantage that S. splendens has over many other red-flowered salvias is that its calyx is as brilliant scarlet as the corolla.

The most widely used of all salvias cultivated for ornament is Salvia splendens, or scarlet sage. This is one of the most brilliant red-flowered bedding plants in cultivation. It is generally grown in large masses. It does best in full sunshine, but may be used in shady places to light up dark woody recesses. It should have a dark background of some kind by way of contrast. A well-managed mass of scarlet sage may be maintained in full splendor from the middle of July to frost. It is propagated by either cuttings or seed. It is rather troublesome to keep cuttings or plants over winter, as they are particularly liable to attacks of aphis and red-spider. It is, therefore, important to get seed of an early-blooming variety of compact habit, and to sow the seed early indoors or in a frame in time to get good plants to set outdoors in May. A good raceme is over a foot long, with 30 or more flowers in a raceme, and 2 to 6 flowers in a whorl, each flower being 2 inches or more long. Some varieties have erect racemes, others pendulous, and there are white varieties, together with some intermediate colors. A poorly managed bed of scarlet sage gives a few flowers in September and is cut off in a short time by frost. Wet seasons delay the bloom, and, if the soil is too rich in nitrogen, the plants will make too much growth and the flowers will be late and relatively few. The same principles of cultivation apply to other tender salvias used for bedding. Florists sometimes lift a few plants of scarlet sage before frost, pot them and find that they make attractive plants under glass for a month or two. One advantage that S. splendens has over many other red-flowered salvias is that its calyx is as brilliant scarlet as the corolla.

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The closely related genera ''[[Perovskia]]'' and ''[[Phlomis]]'' are also known as sage; [[Russian Sage]] (''[[Perovskia atriplicifolia]]''), native to the [[Crimea]] east to [[Afghanistan]] and [[Pakistan]], is grown as an ornamental plant, because of its blue-violet sprays of flowers and its adaptability to either sun or part shade. It has a pleasant smell and is also grown as a [[nectar source|bee plant]], but is not consumed by humans. [[Phlomis|Jerusalem Sage]] refers to ''Phlomis fruticosa'' and other species of ''Phlomis''.

Some species of the unrelated genus ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' are also referred to as sages, a shortened version of ''sagebrush'', which is a more appropriate term for them. They generally taste vile and are not used in food preparation, although many of them are used medicinally. Smudge bundles are made with various grey-leaved species of ''Artemisia'' and are misrepresented as "whitesage" smudges. The true whitesage is ''Salvia apiana'', which has a delightful scent when burned.

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''Salvia'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including the (but not limited to) [[Bucculatricidae|bucculatricid]] leaf-miner ''Bucculatrix taeniola'' which feeds exclusively on the genus and the ''[[Coleophora]]'' case-bearers ''C. aegyptiacae'', ''C. salviella'' (both feed exclusively on ''S. aegyptiaca''), ''C. ornatipennella'' and ''C. virgatella'' (both recorded on ''S. pratensis'').

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===Selected species===

==Species==

{{main|List of Salvia species}}

{{main|List of Salvia species}}

* ''[[Salvia apiana]]'' - White sage, California white sage.

* ''[[Salvia apiana]]'' - White sage, California white sage.

* ''[[Salvia argentea]]'' - Silver sage.

* ''[[Salvia argentea]]'' - Silver sage.

* ''[[Salvia viridis]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]]: ''S. horminum'') - Painted sage.

* ''[[Salvia viridis]]'' ([[synonymy|syn.]]: ''S. horminum'') - Painted sage.

The name ''Salvia'' derives from the Latin 'salveo', which means 'to heal'. Indeed this herb is highly regarded for its healing qualities. An ancient proverb states, "Why should a man die who has sage in his garden?". The ancient [[Greeks]] used it to treat [[tuberculosis|consumption]], [[ulcer]]s and [[snake bite]]s.

 

The following species have been in cult. or are not sufficiently known to be classified: S. amoena, Sims-S. lamiifolia.—S. angustifolia, Cav. (Sec. 7). Perennial herb, about 2 ft. high, with subsessile oblong-linear lvs.: calyx often bluish; corolla blue. Mex. B.R. 1554.—S. arborea, Hort., is offered in the American trade, as like the scarlet sage, but growing in a tree-like form. Possibly only a variant of S. splendens.—S. asperata, Falc. (Sec. 5). Stout herb, about 2 ft. high, with broad subcordate-ovate lvs.: corolla yellowish white. Himalaya. B.M. 4884.—S. austriaca, Linn. (Sec. 6). Perennial herb, about 2-3 ft. high, with broad-ovate lvs.: corolla yellowish, the upper lip spotted red. S. Eu. B. R. 1019.—S. boliviana, Planch. (Sec. 7). Subshrub about 4 ft. high, with ovate-cordate lvs.: calyx dull purple or green and purple; corolla bright scarlet, 3 in. long. Bolivia. B.M. 6714. F.S. 11:1148.—S. Camertonii, Regel (Sec. 7). Subshrub, 3-5 ft. high, with ovate or cordate-ovate lvs.: corolla brownish purple, 1 in. long. Probably Mex. Gt. 4:180. Considered by some as probably the same as S. elegans.—S. camphorata, Hort., is offered in the trade.—S. candidissima, Vahl (S. odorata, Willd.) (Sec. 5). Subshrub or herb, about 3 ft. high, with ovate, lanceolate or orbicular lvs.: corolla white. Orient.—S. canescens, Mey. (Sec. 5). Sts. herbaceous, 2 ft. high, white-lanate at base: lvs. lanceolate-oblong, entire or sinuate-lobate: corolla purple. Caucasus. B.R. 24:36.—S. Celoviana, Hort. Shrubby, with dark bronze-green foliage: corolla reddish violet. Hardy in S.W. England and Ireland. Botanically unknown.—S. ceratophylla, Linn. (Sec. 5). Sts. herbaceous, white-lanate at base: lvs. deeply pinnatifid, 7-8 in. long, with linear lobes, both surfaces lanate: corolla about 1 in. long, yellowish white. Orient and Asia Minor. F.C. 1:5.—S. chamaedryoides, Cav. (Sec. 7). Subshrub about 1 ft. high, with ovate-oblong lvs. which are hoary-tomentose beneath: calyx often purplish; corolla blue, the lower lip very broad. Mex. B.M. 808. L.B.C. 6:576.—S. confertiflora, Pohl (Sec. 7). Subshrub, about 3 ft. high, with ovate-oblong lvs., base cuneate: racemes elongated, up to 2 ft.; floral whorls numerous, many-fld.; calyx reddish; corolla small, not gaping, reddish inside, yellowish or reddish outside, covered with yellow wool. Brazil. B.M. 3899. H.U. 3. p. 203.—S. confusa, Benth. (S. interrupta, Hort., not Schousb.) (Sec. 1). Hardy shrub, about 4 ft. high, with tomentose-pubescent branches: lvs. interrupted pinnatisect, white-lanate beneath: calyx colored, striate and pubescent: corolla whitish. S. Eu.—S. discolor, HBK. (S. mexicana minor, Hort.) (Sec. 7). Shrub, 2-3 ft. or more high, with ovate-lanceolate lvs.: spikes 8-9 in. long; calyx striate; corolla shining violet. Mountains of Peru. B.M. 6772. G.C. II. 19:341.—S. elegans, Vahl (Sec. 7). Perennial herb, 3-4 ft. high with ovate acuminate serrate lvs. hispidulous pubescent or tomentose above, glabrous beneath: corolla blood-red, more than 1 in. long. Mex. and Guatemala. B.M. 6448.—S. eriocalyx, Bert. (Sec. 7). Shrub with divaricate hoary-pubescent branches: lvs. oblong- lanceolate: racemes simple and short: calyx densely lanate, frequently reddish; corolla white. Japan. R.H. 1844:1.—S. flava, G. Forest. Plant, 8-20 in. high: sts. ascending, erect, more or less pilose above: basal lvs. long-petiolate, 1 3/4 – 6 1/2 x 1-3 1/4 in., hastate-triangular or hastate-ovate, more or less pilose on both surfaces, crenate, double crenate, or crenate-serrate: racemes composite; floral whorls 4-8, subremote, generally 4-fld.; calyx pilose; corolla canary-yellow with purple markings, about 2 1/2 in. long: galea slightly lanuginose. W.China.—S. Forskohlei, Linn. (Sec. 3). Hardy perennial, 1 1/2 ft. high: st. herbaceous, somewhat viscous-villous: lvs. broad-ovate: corolla violet. Orient. B.M. 988.—S. Gardneriana, Hort., is offered in the trade.—S. globosa, Hort. Biennial: lvs. in a flattened rosette 16-18 in. long, 10-12 in. broad, deeply cut, clothed with a silvery white tomentum: fl.-st. 3 ft. or more high, much branched, the branches forming a sphere: fls. large, white. Asia Minor. R.B. 37: 28.—S. Greigii, Hort., is offered in the trade as a wooded shrub 2 1/2- 3 ft. high: fls. a soft shade of cerise, produced all summer. G.M. 57:713.—S. Heerii, Regel (Sec. 7, probably). Subshrub, 2-5 ft. high, with cordate-ovate or lanceolate lvs.: corolla scarlet. Peru. Gt. 4:115.—S. indica. Linn. (Sec. 5). Perennial herb, about 3 ft. high, with broad or oblong-ovate lvs., the floral ones ovate-cordate, reflexed: corolla yellow spotted with purple. Syria. B.M. 395.—S. interrupta, Schousb. (Sec. 1). Hardy subshrub, 3-4 ft. high, with irregularly pinnatisect lvs., the extreme segm. much larger than the others: corolla showy, dark violet-purple with a white throat. Morocco. B.M. 5860. — S. lamiifolia, Jacq. (S. amoena, Sims) (Sec. 7). Shrub, about 2 ft. high, with ovate, serrate-crenate lvs.: corolla blue, the upper lip covered with whitish blue wool. W. Indies. B.M. 1294. B.R. 446. L.B.C. 4:377.— S. lavenduloides, HBK. (S. lavenduliformis, Neum.) (Sec. 7). Perennial herb, with very short-petioled, oblong-lanceolate lvs.: spikes 2-3 ft. long; corolla pale blue, small. Mex. R.H. 1845:445. — S. leonuroides, Glox. (S. Formosa, L’Her.) (Sec. 7). Shrub, about 3 ft. high, with ovate or rhomboid lvs.: the floral whorls in the axils of the cauline lvs. not racemose; corolla scarlet. Peru and Brazil. B.M. 376. — S. macrostachya, HBK. (Sec. 7). Shrub, about 6 ft. high, with subrotund-ovate lvs., their base deeply cordate, the auricles rounded ; the floral lvs. large, green: corolla blue, the lower lip longer than the galea, Peru. B.M. 7372. — S. oaxacana, Fern. (Sec. 7). Shrub, much branched: lvs. ovate, pale green and strongly rugose above, white-tomentose beneath: floral whorls mostly 2-fld.; corolla cardinal-red, nearly 1 3/4 in. long. Mex. — S. oppositiflora, Ruiz & Pav.(Sec.7). Half-hardy subshrub, about 2 ft. high, with ovate, pubescent lvs.: floral whorls 2-fld., secund, calyx striate; corolla scarlet. F.S. 4:345. P.M. 15:53. Gt. 4:212.— S. princeps, Hort. (Sec. 7). Subshrub, 3-6 ft. high: lvs. large, ovate-serrate, with the principal veins prominent: spikes large, terminating the branches; calyx colored; corolla brilliant carmine-rose, slightly ventricose, lfts. small. Mex. R.B. 33:257. Resembles S. splendens. — S. prunelloides, HBK. (S. brunellodes, Voss) (Sec. 7). Several herbaceous sts. from a perennial base: lvs. ovate-oblong, both surfaces green: corolla blue. Mex. P.M. 11 : 175. Var. purpurea, Hort., has the fls. purplish red. — S. rutilans, Carr. (Sec. 7). A plant with a small green calyx and usually 2-fld. floral whorls. Probably a horticultural form of S. splendens. R.H. 1873:250. G.C. II. 15:117(?).— S. scabiosaefolia. Lam. (S. Habliziana, Willd.) (Sec. 1). Perennial herb, 1-1 1/2 ft. high, with pinnatisect lvs.: segms. 3-5-jugate, frequently in pairs or 3's: corolla white. Tauria. B.M. 1429 and 5209. —S. scapiformis, Hance (Sec. 11). Perennial herb: lvs. radical, broadly ovate or oblong-cordate: scapes 6-10 in. high; the floral whorls numerous; corolla amethystine. Formosa. B.B. 6980. — S. Sieheana, Hort., is described as perennial, and having large light lilac fls. — S. Souliei, Duthie. Perennial, about 2 ft. high: sts. herbaceous: lvs. dark green, triangular, rugose: fls. numerous, tubular-lipped, delicate shade of blue. China. — S. strictiflora, Hook. (Sec. 7). Shrub, about 2 ft. high, with ovate; pale green, slightly fleshy lvs.: fls. stiffly erect, tubular and golden red. Peru. B.M. 3135. P.M. 11:247.— S. taraxacifolia. Coss. & Bal. (Sec. 1). Sub-shrub, 6-18 in. high, with lvs. 2-4 in. long, pinnatisect, terminal lobe 1-1 1/2 in. long, ovate and irregularly sinuate-toothed, all white-tomentose beneath: corolla pale pink with a yellowish disk to the lower lip and a purple-speckled palate. Morocco. B.M. 5991. — S. tricolor, Lem. (Sec. 7). Half-hardy shrub, about 2 ft. high, with small ovate lvs. rounded-obtuse at the apex, with a terminal tooth: corolla white, the lower part of the large lower lip reddish. Mex. I.H. 4: 120. F.S. 12: 1237.

The [[Ancient Rome|Ancient Romans]] considered sage to be a sacred herb and followed an elaborate [[ceremony]] when harvesting it. A sage gatherer would  use a special knife (not made of iron as it reacts with the sage), have to have clean clothes and clean feet and a sacrifice of food would have to be made before he could begin. The Romans would use it for toothpaste; they also believed it to be good for the brain, senses and memory. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}

 

The [[China|Chinese]] also were quite partial to this herb. 17th century [[Netherlands|Dutch]] merchants found that they would trade one chest of sage leaves for three of their teas [http://www.selfsufficientish.com/sage.htm].

 

Sages are also used by several [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] cultures.

 

 

 

Several types of ''Salvia'' are used medicinally:

* aromatic varieties (usually strongly scented [[Leaf|leaves]], also used as herbs)

* non-aromatic varieties (not considered medicinal, but many still have a scent)

* ''Divinorum'' ([[Diviner's sage]]) contains a diterpenoid used for spiritual and recreational purposes.

* [[Alzheimer]]'s disease, research has shown that it improves cognitive function over a period of several months <ref>http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=19&hid=119&sid=3ed5146a-be26-4910-a86e-f5ff50f1028f%40sessionmgr103 </ref>.

 

The aromatic sages strengthen the lungs and can be used in teas or [[tincture]]s to prevent coughs. Less aromatic species of ''Salvia'' are run-of-the-mill mint-family anti-inflammatories, which means that they can be used for pretty much any infection or inflammation, and will give at least some relief.

 

[[Common sage]] (''Salvia officinalis'') drunk as a cold tea will stop sweating, while the same tea drunk hot will produce sweating. Cold and hot teas will also either stop or enhance [[milk]] production. The [[essential oil]] is used in [[aromatherapy]] and [[medicine]].

 

[[White sage]] (''Salvia apiana'') is a very strong general [[anti-inflammatory]], used as tea or tincture. The tincture has a very nice scent and can be used as a [[perfume]]. This species is the famous whitesage of smudge sticks.

[[Pineapple sage]] (''Salvia elegans'', old: ''S. rutilans'') is a tender perennial with pineapple-scented leaves. Medicinally, this is perhaps closest to the [[scented geraniums]], a sweet-smelling ''[[Pelargonium]]'' species.

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[[Salvia miltiorrhiza|Red sage]] (''Salvia miltiorrhiza'') is used medicinally in [[Traditional Chinese medicine]].

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'''Chia sages'''. The seeds of these species are used as [[bulk laxatives]], much like the seeds of [[Psyllium]] (''Plantago'' spp.) or [[linseed]]. [[Chia]] has been important in the diet of desert Indians. It is still used for its [[Mucilage|mucilaginous]] qualities by Mexican natives.

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->

* ''A Book of Salvias: Sages for Every Garden'' by [[Betsy Clebsch]], Timber Press, 1997, ISBN 0-88192-369-9. An excellent reference on salvias. Also, an updated (2004 edition) is available.

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