Plants

sage

Salvia officinalis L.

Family: Lamiaceae · Genus: Salvia

common sage, garden sage

Placenta II Low No biomass production 🪓 Coppices after cutting

Perennial Mediterranean subshrub (40–80 cm), grey-green aromatic leaves. Cold-hardy. In subtropical syntropic systems pairs well with rosemary and thyme in partly shaded beds.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta II
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Low
Strata: Low, Ground cover
Biomass class: No biomass production

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Low
Drought tolerance: High
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 6–7.5
Preferred soil texture: Sandy, Loamy
Hardiness zones: 5–10
Frost tolerance: -15.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 0.4–0.8 m
Recommended spacing: 0.4–0.6 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Medium
Growth rate: Moderate
Lifespan: 5–15 years

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Suitable
Pampa Suitable

Köppen classes

Hot-summer Mediterranean (Csa) Suitable
Warm-summer Mediterranean (Csb) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Oceanic (Cfb) Suitable
Subtropical highland (Cwb) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Sage takes the Low stratum in the Placenta II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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🪴 Cultivation

A woody Mediterranean subshrub, hardy (zones 5–10) and drought tolerant; sandy-to-loamy well-drained soil, neutral to slightly alkaline (pH ~6–7.5). May be killed by excessive winter wet. Needs full sun. Propagated by seed or shoot cutting.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Prune in early spring and after flowering to keep shape and encourage fresh foliage; avoid hard cuts into old wood, which resprouts poorly. Replace woody, open plants every few years.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November, December, January

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for sage?

The recommended spacing for sage is 0.4–0.6 m.

How tall does sage grow?

At maturity, sage reaches 0.4–0.8 m tall.

When does sage flower?

Flowering of sage occurs in October, November, December, January.

What stage and stratum does sage occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, sage belongs to the placenta ii stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

Aromatic Medicinal 🐝 Attracts pollinators 🍯 Melliferous

Propagation

Seed, Cutting

Citations

Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Salvia officinalis (height_max_m, soil_texture_preference, light_need, water_need, drought_tolerance, propagation, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, ph_max, waterlogging_tolerance)