Salvia pomifera
L.
Apple sage
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Summary
Evergreen shrub reaching 1 m tall and wide, growing at medium rate. Flowers May to July with hermaphrodite blooms pollinated by insects and self-fertile. Hardy to UK zone 8. Prefers light to medium well-drained soils, full sun, and tolerates dry to moist conditions across mildly acidic to basic soils. Notable for attracting wildlife.
Description
It is like true sage (Salvia officinalis) but is taller. The leaves are oval. The flowers are violet-blue. The calyx is much enlarged in the fruit.
Edible Uses
The leaves have a strong scent and flavour reminiscent of lavender and common sage, and are used as an adulterant of sage in commercial food flavouring. An infusion of the herb makes a very fragrant tea known as 'fascomiglia'. Semi-transparent galls form on the plant when gall wasps invade the young branches; these are crystallised in sugar to make a conserve or sweetmeat that is considered a great delicacy in Greece, with an agreeable and astringent flavour. It is unclear whether the galls are used before or after the insects have departed.
Traditional Uses
The galls on the plant produced by a stinging insect are collected and used for sweetmeats or preserves. The leaves are sometimes added to sage. The leaves are use for tea.
Medicinal Uses
An infusion of dried leaves is used medicinally in Greece, though the specific conditions treated are not recorded. In excess, the tea causes profuse perspiration, languor, and even faintness. The leaves are considered to share the same properties as common sage (S. officinalis) but with stronger action — these properties being antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, galactofuge, stimulant, tonic, and vasodilator.
Distribution
It is a Mediterranean climate plant.
Where It Grows
Asia, Europe, Greece, Mediterranean, Turkey, Türkiye,
Cultivation
Requires a very well-drained, light, sandy soil in a sunny position. Prefers a rich soil. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer. Sage leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season, with the best flavor typically from spring to early summer, just before flowering. Sage usually flowers in late spring to early summer, generally between May and June (Northern Hemisphere), depending on the specific species and growing conditions. Sage is a moderately fast-growing herb, often reaching maturity in about 1 to 2 years under optimal conditions. Many sage species are self-fertile.
Propagation
Sow seed in March/April in a greenhouse; germination typically occurs within 2 weeks. Prick seedlings into individual pots when large enough and plant out in early summer. In marginal areas, overwinter young plants under glass and plant out in late spring the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken at almost any point during the growing season.
Other Uses
Sage can be used as a companion plant to attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and its aromatic leaves may deter certain pests. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, drawing bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The dense foliage can provide shelter for small wildlife and invertebrates, while woody stems and leaf litter offer overwintering sites for beneficial insects. The strong aromatic scent helps confuse and deter insect pests and herbivores.
Notes
There are about 900 Salvia species.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Apple Sage
References (5)
- Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 402
- Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 135
- Sp. pl. 1:24. 1753
- Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 610
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
