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How to Grow Sage: A Flavorful Guide to Planting, Harvesting, and Using This Classic Culinary Herb

Sage is a useful herb that can be easily grown in your garden.

Botanical Name
Salvia officinalis
Grown as
Perennial
USDA Zones
4a
4b
5a
5b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Cut Flower
Fragrant
Long Blooming
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Cold Hardy
Drought-Tolerant
Plant Type
Herbs
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

If your kitchen had a signature scent, sage might just be it. This aromatic herb brings cozy comfort to every dish it touches—especially that Thanksgiving stuffing everyone asks you for the recipe to. Luckily, garden sage isn’t just delicious; it’s delightfully easy to grow. 

Whether you’re seasoning your Sunday roast or adding a pop of green to your garden, here’s how to plant, care for, and harvest this time-tested kitchen staple.

Sage is a hardy perennial with pretty, grayish-green leaves that are as good in a perennial border as they are in a vegetable garden. It grows spikes of spring flowers in different colors, including purple, blue, white, and pink. According to Rosie Lerner from Perdue, “If left to flower, sage will produce blue blooms that attract butterflies, but this leaves less oil content, translating to reduced flavor in the leaves.” See more flowers that attract butterflies!

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Note: Not all sage varieties are culinary; the most popular kitchen sage is called Salvia officinalis. The origin of the Salvia name speaks to this herb’s age-old medicinal value from the Latin salvus, “to save,” and salvere, “to heal.” Sage contains antioxidants that help reduce the risk of serious health conditions like cancer. It’s also rich in vitamin K, which aids the body in clotting blood.

Planting

How to Plant Sage

  • Plant sage in full sun.
  • Sage should be planted in well-draining soil; it won’t tolerate sitting in wet soil.
  • The easiest and best way to start sage is from a small plant. Set the plants 2 feet apart.
  • You can also sow seeds up to 2 weeks before the last frost date. (See local frost dates.) Plant the seeds/cuttings in well-draining soil 1 to 2 weeks before the last spring frost.
  • For best growth, the soil should be between 60º and 70ºF.
  • Plants should reach between 12 and 30 inches in height.
  • In the garden, plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots, but keep sage away from cucumbers.

Growing

How to Grow Sage

  • Be sure to water the young plants regularly until they are fully grown so that they don’t dry out. They’ll need a consistent moisture supply until they start growing quickly.
  • Prune the heavier, woody stems every spring.
  • It’s best to replace the plants every few years so they remain productive.
  • You can grow sage from cuttings!

sage plant

 

Harvesting

How to Harvest Sage

  • Pinch off leaves or snip off small sprigs from the plant.
  • During the first year, harvest lightly to ensure that the plant grows fully.
  • After the first year, be sure to leave a few stalks so that the plant can rejuvenate in the future.
  • If fully established, one plant can be harvested up to three times in one season.
  • Stop harvesting in the fall so the plant can prepare for winter.

How to Store Sage

  • Sage’s flavor is best when fresh, but it can be stored frozen or dried.
  • To dry, hang sprigs in a shady, well-ventilated area and allow them to air dry, waiting until the leaves crumble easily to store in tightly lidded jars.
  • Sage keeps its flavor better if stored in the freezer. Freeze leaves or stalks on a tray, then move the leaves into a zippered bag or container. Some cooks blend the leaves with oil, pack the ground mixture into ice cube trays to freeze, and then transfer the cubes to a container.

Pests and Problems

Types

  • ‘Berggarten’, a robust plant with very large silver-gray leaves
  • ’Tricolor’ sage, for a bit of color in the garden (yellow, mauve, and sage green)
  • ‘Icterina’ has green leaves with yellow edges

'Tricolor' sage

Wit and Wisdom

  • Anyone who has sage planted in their garden is reputed to do well in business.
  • Susan Mahr of the University of Wisconsin–Madison tells us, “Sage is often mentioned as the herb of immortality, domestic virtue, health, and wisdom. Sage was a sacred ceremonial herb of the Romans. It has been cultivated for both culinary and medicinal purposes for many centuries in Europe.”
  • For other greens to use in your cuisine, see the Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.

Herbs

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 11/04/2015 - 17:18

Hi Maggie,

Sage is winter hardy and will survive outdoors. You can plant it in the garden and add some mulch around the stems if you like. Sage is evergreen so you may be able to harvest leaves during the winter months. If the leaves die back it will shoot up new growth from the roots in the spring.

 <span>Amy Dawn Berger</span> Mon, 10/26/2015 - 19:46
I planted several sage plants; however, I have discovered they are too close to my front porch after all the bees came this year. While the bees tend to stay on the flowers, I think it might be better to move the plants to another location in my yard. I started these plants from seeds and planted them in early spring this year. When is the best time for me to try to move the plants to another location?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 10/28/2015 - 09:45

For perennial sages, it might be best to wait until early spring to transplant, before they break dormancy.

 <span>John Aiello</span> Tue, 09/22/2015 - 03:00
I live in Florida 10a planting zone. A friend offered to sell me a Sage tree 3 feet high. Will the tree flourish in my area.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 09/22/2015 - 14:48

In humid areas like zones 9 and further south, sage will be an annual. It does not easily tolerate summer heat and humidity.

 <span>Xstixteo</span> Sun, 08/23/2015 - 01:41
We live in the tropics and I'm keeping my pot of sage on my balcony that gives it ample sun (4-5hrs morning sun). I water when the soil feels dry when I stick my finger tip in (every other day). The leaves of my sage plant curls downwards though they look all firm and grayish green without drying tips so I am not sure what I am doing wrong to cause the curling. Could you give me some advice on how to help my sage plant please? ;)
<span>Beth</span> Fri, 08/26/2016 - 10:35
I am having the same prob (I am in Kentucky, USA - very hot this time of year). I was thinking it was going dormant for the year, but it hasn't flowered yet. Maybe nutrient deficiency? Looks like I won't be getting much of a sage harvest. Hope someone knows the answer to this. Best of luck.
<span>Mayura</span> Fri, 06/05/2015 - 23:15
I just planted some May Night Salvia from the nursery in my garden 2 weeks ago. They were vibrant purple in the nursery. Now they look like they're dying. I didn't water everyday, probably every other day. Not sure if the flowers need to be pinched/deadheaded or if they're dying. Help!
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 06/08/2015 - 12:53

Salvia likes dry, poor soil. Do not water too much. Only water when the sub-surface soil is on the dry side. Also, keep water on their leaves and water at the soil level. Finally, ensure the planting area has good drainage (and tons of sun!).

 <span>Ashley Addison</span> Thu, 06/04/2015 - 20:32
Hi I tried the propitiation get from a cutting from my sage plant and dipped it in root tone planted in the soil and the cutting has turned brown looks like it is dying should this happen? Will it root and grow new leaves?