Garden Sage
Salvia officinalis 'Tricolor'
Also known as Culinary Sage, Common Sage, Kitchen Sage
Climate Match for your location
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A decorative culinary sage with variegated foliage featuring green, cream, and purple leaves. Produces purple-pink flowers in summer and thrives in dry conditions with minimal maintenance.
Why grow it
Tricolor sage offers the culinary utility of common sage (Salvia officinalis) alongside ornamental foliage that distinguishes it from plain green selections, making it practical for gardeners seeking dual-purpose herbs. Like other sage varieties, it tolerates poor soils and drought once established, requiring less water and amendment than many culinary herbs. The variegated foliage is less vigorous than solid-green sage, so it produces somewhat lighter yields if productivity is your primary goal.
Watch out for
Variegated sages can revert to solid green growth; pruning out these reversions helps maintain the coloration. In humid climates or with overhead watering, the dense foliage may trap moisture and invite fungal issues, so favor drip irrigation or water at the soil line. The plant may be less cold-hardy than standard sage in zones at the edge of its range, warranting winter mulch in colder areas.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A decorative culinary sage with variegated foliage featuring green, cream, and purple leaves. Produces purple-pink flowers in summer and thrives in dry conditions with minimal maintenance.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Garden Sage grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Tricolor sage offers the culinary utility of common sage (Salvia officinalis) alongside ornamental foliage that distinguishes it from plain green selections, making it practical for gardeners seeking dual-purpose herbs. Like other sage varieties, it tolerates poor soils and drought once established, requiring less water and amendment than many culinary herbs. The variegated foliage is less vigorous than solid-green sage, so it produces somewhat lighter yields if productivity is your primary goal.
Watch out for
Variegated sages can revert to solid green growth; pruning out these reversions helps maintain the coloration. In humid climates or with overhead watering, the dense foliage may trap moisture and invite fungal issues, so favor drip irrigation or water at the soil line. The plant may be less cold-hardy than standard sage in zones at the edge of its range, warranting winter mulch in colder areas.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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