The appearance and folklore of sage have led to an association between this herb and the Virgin Mary. The soft, velvety texture of the leaves brings to mind the protective cloak that Mary often wears in Christian art thus giving rise to the name “Mary’s Shawl”. The association is enhanced by the historical use of the plant in herbal medicine which suggests nurturing and protection, qualities associated with Mary. From ancient times, sage has been used to treat a variety of ailments from digestive issues to sore throat. In ancient Egyptian times it was used for increasing fertility in women while the ancient Greeks and Romans used it for wound healing, and as a diuretic. By the Middle ages it was one of the recommended herbs for monastic physics gardens and used to treat many ailments including fever, liver disease and epilepsy. It was used in Four Thieves Vinegar to ward off the plague and by the 16th century was used to improve the senses and memory. The extenseive use of sage over centuries to treat a wide variety of ailments and restore health formed a strong bond with the protective attributes of the Virgin Mary. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Common sage is a perennial subshrub and a member of the deadnettle family, Lamiaceae, that also includes basil, mint, and beebalm. It is native to the southern Mediterranean coast including North Africa where it grows in full sun and dry well-drained soil. The plant grows 2-2.5’ tall and has wiry, woody square stems covered with fine hairs. The grayish green leaves are carried on long petioles and are up to 4” long. They are puckered, covered with soft hairs, and are very aromatic when crushed. The two-lipped tubular flowers are up to 1” long and grow in whorls of 4-8 at the axils. They appear in early summer and may be pink, purple, blue, or white. Butterflies and bees love them.
Sage likes full sun in average, dry, well-drained alkaline soil in USDA Hardiness zones 5-8. Hot humid conditions can cause foliar diseases. Propagation is by seed and division. Plants can be kept compact by pruning after flowering.
The genus name, Salvia, comes from the Latin word salveo meaing save or heal and refers to the real or supposed medicinal attributes of the plant. The specific epithet, officinalis, is the Latin word meaning belonging to an officina, the storeroom of a monastery, where medicines and other necessaries were kept, and refers to the medicinal use of the plant.
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