Salvia oficinalis

The most common of the many varieties of green sage. It is a strongly flavored, aromatic evergreen shrub which can grow to a height of 4 ft. This variety produces purple flowers and soft green leaves which have a rough texture.

Sage will grow in almost any well drained soil in a sunny position. Other green varieties include golden sage, which has gold-tipped leaves, pineapple sage, variegated-leaf sage, which has green leaves flecked with cream, and tricolor sage, which produces gray-green leaves speckled with white, purple and pink.

Uses: Sage is widely used in Italian cooking and is one of the herbs often used in stuffings for poultry. In Italy age was believed to preserve health and country folk would eat bread and butter sandwiches filled with sage leaves. In Jamaica sage tea is served sweetened with lime juice.

Medicinal: Sage tea was believed to cleanse and purify the blood.