The Clary sage is also known as Muscat sage and Europe Sage and is native to south-eastern Europe and Asia, where it grows in dry, rocky places. This much-loved and attractive garden plant has large grey-green leaves and long flower spikes with attractive, beautiful white-pink to purple-blue flowers. The strong smell it gives off attracts bees and butterflies and is considered by some people to be very tasty and by others to be very nasty. It has little culinary or medical use, but the oil of the plant is mainly used in men's perfumes. Tea can also be made from the leaves to help with gum problems and throat infections. Perennial. Height: 130 cm.
Indoor sowing: March - April
Outdoor sowing: May - July
Germination: 10 - 14 days
Germination temperature: 18 - 24°C
Sowing depth: shallow - ½ cm
Planting distance: 20 -30 cm
Plant position: sunny
Flowering period: June - September
Sow indoors from March in trays with well moistened seed and cutting soil. Sow shallowly and press the seeds gently. Muscat sage needs a cold period to germinate well. Do not store the trays too warm and cover them with the lid to keep the moisture in. Remove the lid as soon as the seedlings emerge. As soon as the seedlings are big enough to handle, put them in separate pots. Leave the pots outside for a few days in early May, during the day, to allow the seedlings to get used to the outside temperature. After mid May, as soon as there is no more chance of night frost, the seedlings can be placed in a sunny spot with good porous soil.
Sowing outside in the garden can be done from May, when there is no chance of night frost. Sow thinly and press the seeds gently. Keep well moist and weed free. Thin out the seedlings at 20 - 30 cm, as soon as they are big enough to handle. Give Muscat sage a sunny spot with well-drained soil. This plant sows itself very easily and is therefore very suitable for the wild garden.
