Sage is most widely known as a herb plant, possessing many culinary and medicinal properties. In fact, this applies mainly to the Garden or Common sage, Salvia officinalis, whereas most species, while perhaps having fragrant leaves, are grown purely as garden ornamentals. As far as Mediterranean and other dry climates are concerned, many sages are tolerant of both drought and alkaline soils.

Different types of Sage perform a number of design roles, but features common to all the ornamental species and varieties include attractive foliage, showy flowers, and relatively low maintenance needs. Design wise, Sages can be divided into four main groups; long lasting perennials, short-lived perennials, small shrubs or semi woody sub-shrubs, and tropical species that act as annuals in Mediterranean and temperate climates.

Perennials

The great benefit of the long lasting perennial sages is that they form a stable element in a flowerbed or herbaceous border. It is virtually impossible to expect a flowerbed to look at its best all year, because annuals and short-lived perennials have to be replaced, clumps of bulbous plants dug up and divided, and many perennials cut down to the ground

Many Sages on the other hand, look presentable and “hold” the border even when out of bloom. Examples include Salvia Africana-lutea, S. leucantha, and S. “Indigo Spires” with their very prominent purple-blue flowers,

In natural style gardens in dry climates, the short-lived perennial, Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) comes into its own. It self-sows to form a carpet of grey-green, woolly leaves, interspersed with lavender blue flowers in the spring. Cutting the leaf stalks before the seeds have ripened, will of course reduce the capacity of the plant to spread.

Sub-Shrubs and Low Bushes

Low growing foliage bushes are useful and often important elements in garden design. Groupings that include plants like Pittosporum “Wheelers Dwarf”, Coprosma, Green Island Ficus, and Raphiolepis indica, can become more interesting and lively when a shrubby sage is added. A fine example is Salvia microphylla, which as its name implies, has small leaves and a delicate texture. It flowers profusely with lovely red blooms. The plant seems to last for years, requiring a good prune every couple of years or so.

Sages used as Annuals

The Tropical Sage, S. coccinea, is a perennial from Mexico, but is usually grown as an annual in Mediterranean climates. It has interesting heart-shaped leaves and bright red flowers, which re-bloom after dead heading throughout the warm months of the year. There are numerous varieties available in nurseries of this species and indeed of many of the species previously mentioned.

With water shortages increasing in severity throughout the dry regions of the world, gardeners can be thankful for the varied design uses of many sages. Considering that many, although not all, can beautify the garden on a fraction of the water needed for most summer annuals and many perennials, Sage plants are definitely a vital tool for the gardener in a dry climate.