Salvia officinalis
Origin: Mediterranean
Improvement status: Unknown
Seeds per packet: ~50
Germination tested 02/2026: 93%
Life cycle: Perennial
Sage is an incredible culinary and medicinal herb that has earned its place in any herb garden. This classic perennial (often hardy down to Zone 4) is highly productive and reliable. While it’s famously delicious in Thanksgiving dishes, sage pairs beautifully with a variety of foods like beans, winter squash, steak, fish, and ravioli. Fry whole leaves until crispy (ideally in butter) and you’ll never look back. It doesn't reliably flower in certain climates, but when it does, it's a visual delight and a pollinator magnet too. If you keep bees and your sage blooms, its nectar adds a delightful flavor to honey.
These seeds come from growers Kelly Gelino and Sebastian Aguilar of Summertime Seeds in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
GROWING TIPS: Start seeds indoors a few weeks before last frost. Germination can be sporadic (taking usually between 10 and 21 days). Cover with not more than a quarter inch of soil or growing medium, as they like light. Keep above 65 degrees (F) for best results. Plant in well-drained soil once seedlings have a few true leaves.
