Growing guide

Best time to plant sage in Australia

Salvia officinalis

Also called common sage, garden sage

Grey-green, pebbly leaves with a soft, pale underside make common sage easy to recognise. This woody evergreen perennial from the Mediterranean grows about 60 cm tall and wide, with mostly lavender flowers. It has a long kitchen history, and variegated forms also earn it a place as an ornamental.

On a shared plot: stays for years

Holds its spot for years. Check your garden's rules and how long your plot licence runs.

When to sow

ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
CoolNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoSowSowSowNo
TemperateNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoSowSowSowSow
SubtropicalNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoNoNoNoNoNoSowSowSowSowNo
TropicalNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoNoNoSowSowSowNoNoNoNoNo
AridNot yet checked against a local guideNoNoNoNoNoSowSowNoNoNoNoNo

Good months to sow

Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.

Growing details

How to start
Raise seedlings, then transplant
Sowing depth
5mm
Plant spacing
50cm
Row spacing
30cm
Height
70cm
Germination
7-21 days at 18-21°C
Time to harvest
60-90 days
Frost
Hardy, takes a light frost
Sun
Full sun
Life cycle
perennial

These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.

Further reading on this plant