Sage, culinary

Sage is a shrubby, perennial plant that grows to about 2-3 feet tall. Foliage is gray-green with a pebbly texture. As it ages, it has a tendency to sprawl. Spikes of purple flowers appear in mid-summer. Sage prefers a full sun location in soils that are well prepared with compost. For sage to perform as a perennial, it must have very well drained soil especially over the winter. Sage can be grown from seeds or cuttings. Cuttings are preferred as seeds may take several years to produce harvestable plants. As plants age, they become woody and benefit from being replaced in order to maintain quality foliage for culinary use. Prune plants back in the spring just as new growth resumes. Sage is also useful as an ornamental plant in containers or in the garden.