• Mediterranean Summer
• Plant profiles
• Sage

Sage

Salvia officinalis

Although sage & onion stuffing might be your first point of reference, sage is used much more widely in Mediterranean and Balkan cooking, and is also a key ingredient in Lincolnshire sausages. It also makes a calming and digestive cuppa.

Native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe, sage is a widely grown medicinal and culinary herb. There are many cultivars too, which are highly valued as ornamental plants and are great for sunny, dry spots. Sage is currently being studied for what medicinal properties it actually has and it is hoped it may form a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

Factfile:

• Sage is a small, evergreen shrub, which belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae).
• It is used in teas for its calming effects and to aid digestion and sore throats.
• Sage has a peppery flavour and is used to flavour meat, sauces, soups and stuffings.
• It is also used as a preservative in some cheeses

Kew's Salvia border can be found near the Rock Garden, where you can discover the wonderful variety of this genus.