Pollinator plant

Sage

Salvia officinalis

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Common names

17 names

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

English
Dutch
  • Echte salie[2]
  • Franse salie
  • Tuinsalie
French
  • Sauge officinale[2]
German
  • Echter Salbei[2]
  • Garten-Salbei[2]
  • Heilsalbei[2]
  • Küchensalbei[2]
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Salvia officinalis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Sage — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(4); heading: Common Name(s):; Salvia officinalis.
  • Common Sage — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Salvia officinalis.
  • Culinary Sage — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Salvia officinalis.
  • Garden Sage — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Salvia officinalis.
[2] Salvia officinalis — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Sage — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Echte salie — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Sauge officinale — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Common Sage — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Echter Salbei — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Garten-Salbei — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Heilsalbei — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Küchensalbei — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Culinary Sage — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • garden sage — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Golden Sage — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Salvia — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Salvia dulce — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Salvia — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
  • Sálvia — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51738; Salvia officinalis.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Salvia officinalis is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Lamiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.61–0.91 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Plant habit
Mounding; Spreading

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Occasionally Dry

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Summer

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Northern Mediterranean

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Salvia species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

Genus-level guidance, not a rating for this individual species or a particular cultivar. RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable. This entry covers autumn-flowering types.

Sources [3] [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Shrub
Size
Small
Dimensions
0.60 m high × 0.60 m wide
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Evergreen

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
5-10
Moisture
Well-drained, Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Leaves, Flowers, Seasoning, Tea
Functions
Essential oil, Repellent, Ground cover, Fragrant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
5 out of 5

Leaves and flowers can be eaten both raw and cooked. This herb, with strongly aromatic leaves, is often used as a flavoring in cooked dishes. It helps with digestion and is therefore often combined with heavy, fatty foods. It gives a sausage-like flavor to savory dishes. The young leaves and flowers are suitable for raw consumption, cooking, pickling, or as an addition to sandwiches. The flowers can also be sprinkled over salads to add color and fragrance. An herbal tea made from fresh or dried leaves is said to promote digestion. An essential oil from this plant is commercially used to flavor ice cream, candy, pastries, and other products.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Salvia officinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 2436536; ID 6XH46; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 2436536; ID 6XH46; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Salvia officinalis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleGrowth rateLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Garden Plants

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidancePollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 4, column 2, entry Salvia species (top 652 pt)
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 5, column 2, entry Salvia species (top 697 pt)

    Source checked on .