Salvia lavandulifolia
| Salvia lavandulifolia | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Mid Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Salvia lavandulifolia (common name: spanish sage)
Propagation: Seed - sow March/April in a greenhouse[1]. Germination usually takes place within 2 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. In areas where the plant is towards the limits of its hardiness, it is best to grow the plants on in a greenhouse for their first winter and plant them out in late spring of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood succeed at almost any time in the growing season[1].
Cultivation: Requires a light well-drained soil in a sunny position[2][1]. Soils rich in nitrogen encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of flowering[3].
This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[1]. It is as hardy as common sage, S. officinalis[2], to which it is closely related[3]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[1].
The leaves have a pungent lavender scent[2].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[4].
Range: S.W. Europe - Spain.
Habitat: Dry hills and slopes amongst bushes.
Edibility: The aromatic leaves are used as an adulterant for the common sage[5][6]. They are used as a substitute for sage in commercial food flavourings[7].
A sage-like tea is made from the dried leaves[7].
The plant is a source of an essential oil that is used commercially to flavour ice cream, sweets, baked goods, chewing gum, soft drinks etc[6][7].
Medicinal: The leaves are alterative, antiseptic, astringent, depurative, digestive, expectorant, febrifuge and tonic[7]. They are used internally in the treatment of digestive and respiratory complaints, menstrual problems, infertility, nervous tension and depression[7]. This remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women[7]. The leaves can be harvested as required and used fresh, or they can be harvested before the flowers open and dried or distilled for their essential oil[7].
Usage: The essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery and to perfume soaps and cosmetics[7].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: S. hispanorum. Lag.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Thomas, Graham. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.