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{{SPlantbox
{{SPlantbox
|familia=Lamiaceae
|familia=Lamiaceae
|genus=Salvia
|genus=Salvia
|species=fruticosa
|species=fruticosa
|taxo_author=Mill.
|common_name=Greek sage, Triloba sage
|common_name=Greek sage, Triloba sage
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|name_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
|max_zone=10
|max_zone=10
|image=Upload.png
|image=SalviaFruticosa ST 06.JPG
|image_width=240
|image_width=200
}}
}}
'''''Salvia fruticosa''''' ('''Greek sage''') is a perennial herb or sub-shrub<ref>Near the limits of its cold-hardiness, woody stems of ''Salvia fruticosa'' may die back almost to the ground.</ref> native to the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
Greek sage grows 2 ft high and wide, with the flower stalks rising 1 ft or more above the foliage. The entire plant is covered with hairs, with numerous leaves of various sizes growing in clusters, giving it a silvery and bushy appearance. The flowers are pinkish-lavender, about .5 in long, growing in whorls along the inflorescence, and held in a small oxblood-red five-pointed hairy calyx. In its native environment it grows as part of the [[Maquis shrubland]] and several other open plant communities, but populations composed entirely of ''Salvia fruticosa'' are not uncommon.<ref name="Clebsch"/>
It is also grown as an ornamental flowering shrub, preferring full sun, well-draining soil, and good air circulation. Hardy to 20 degrees F., it is very drought resistant. The leaves have a high oil content, with some of the same chemicals as [[lavender]].<ref name="Clebsch"/>
Due its wide variation in leaf shape, there has been a great deal of taxonomic confusion over the years, with many of the leaf variations of ''Salvia fruticosa'' being named as distinct species.
Greek sage accounts for 50-95% of the [[Salvia officinalis|dried sage]] sold in North America.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hanson|first=Beth|title=Designing an Herb Garden|publisher=Brooklyn Botanic Garden|date=2004|pages=58|isbn=9781889538631|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=JLHt5zaEWnoC&pg=PA58}}</ref>
In its native habitat, it frequently develops woolly [[gall]]s about 1 inch in diameter which are called 'apples'. These 'apples' are peeled and eaten when they are soft, and are described as being fragrant, juicy, and tasty.<ref name="Clebsch"/>
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
