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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
Plant Type
Herbs
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener
Almanac Guide to Herbs

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.

About Sage

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!

Buy Seeds Now

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.

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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 is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Joe</span> Tue, 10/08/2024 - 18:34
University of Perdue? How about Purdue University? Go Boilers!
<span>Carol</span> Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:07
Boiler Up! Hammer Down!!
<span>Barbara Hertel</span> Wed, 03/27/2024 - 18:55
I have a 3 year old sage plant. It was neglected for a month 3 months ago. So today I trimmed off all the dead and dried leaves. It seems like its made new sage plants. But still seems attached to the main plant. Can I take these "new plants" and it will be a new sage plant?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 03/29/2024 - 09:35

Hi, Barbara. You can root the new growth. Use a sharp knife to cut away the new shoots, then strip all but three pairs of leaves at the top. Plant the cuttings in potting mix and be sure to keep it moist, but not saturated.

 <span>Willie Kariuki</span> Thu, 07/06/2023 - 01:42
How will I get the seeds or cutting
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Thu, 07/06/2023 - 09:17

Hi Willie-

Great question! You can purchase seeds or a seedling at your local nursery or garden supply store. If you are looking for a cutting, we suggest asking a good gardening friend who grows sage.

Best of luck in your growing adventures!

 <span>Norma Kozlowski</span> Mon, 06/12/2023 - 14:24
I can’t grow safe for the life of me
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/jennifer-keating">Jennifer Keating</a> Mon, 06/12/2023 - 14:54

What troubles do you have growing sage, Norma?

 <span>Gail</span> Sun, 06/05/2022 - 13:12
I’ve been growing my sage for about 4 years. It’s done very well. This year it bloomed profusely & beautifully. Should I trim all the blossoms, the flowers are gone now?
<span>Ella</span> Sun, 05/25/2025 - 09:02
There may be something to that. We have a few mice that try to take up home every year in my cannas. I moved my sage plant, it is in a big pot, close to my back door. I have not been bothered with them this year. By the way, I started my sage plant from seeds and have had it for 4 years now. I really enjoy my sage plant.