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Cottage Gardens

Has anyone grown Clary Sage

13 years ago

I don't know if it's considered a cottage garden flower. I planed a seed

last year. The plant grew, but not that big. This spring it really took

off, and it is a pretty big plant. I expecting to see some flowers this

summer. It is a biennial/Perennial. So does that mean it will die

after this year? If so, I will plant another seed, so I will have flowers

every year.

Comments (5)

gldno1
13 years ago
You won't have to replant anything! Let a bloom self seed and you will now have them forever. I think they are a perfect cottage garden plant if you have room. I love the citrus fragrance and love the blooms (really just papery bracts).

According to my herb book there are two kinds. Salvia sclarea , the true herbal type and salvia hormium, the ornamental one. Both are referred to a Clary Sage.

It was used as an eye wash from a potion from the leaves of the sclarea one and also used in soups, sauces and wine making.

A perfect plant for the Cottage Garden. I love it.
roper2008
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks gldno1. I have the first one, Salvia sclarea from Johnny Seeds.
I think I will collect the seeds and sow them where I have room. Today
I have to move a daylily it crowded out. I planned to move it anyway.
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Annie
13 years ago
I grew them for years. I started with one plant, too. Beautiful and boy did they reseed!
They are biennial, at least the kind I grew.
Pretty, pale lilac flowers - as Glenda stated, papery bracts, their large, crinkly leaves covered in white fuzzy "hairs". Very pretty. Pollinators love them!
I grew mine with Catmint in the center of my herb garden, planted around a 20 foot tepee which I built of tree limbs for growing Birdhouse Gourds. I used it for a couple of years. (My grandchildren had a blast playing in and around the tepee). I grew tall Mullein towards the back. They are also biennial and reseed like crazy.
Clary Sage is lovely in the Cottage Garden setting though.

Try as you might, some of the seeds will likely escape your harvesting, but you can transplant the little seedlings easily next spring.

~Annie
lynnencfan
13 years ago
I can echo Annie and gldno1 - started it from seed a couple years ago and it reseeds freely - I think it is the perfect cottage garden plant - well anything that reseeds is perfect for me :D .......

Lynne
roper2008
Original Author
13 years ago
Glad to hear. I'm looking forward to the flowers, and I like to plant
flowers for the pollinators.

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