Salvia sclarea
| Salvia sclarea | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 3' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Blooms: | Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Salvia sclarea (common name: clary)
Propagation: Seed - can be sown in situ during spring[1]. Alternatively seed can be sown in August/September to overwinter, it will then produce larger plants Thinnings can be transplanted[1]. The seed remains viable for 3 years[1].
Cultivation: Requires a very well-drained light sandy soil in a sunny position[2]. Thrives on any ground that is not too wet[3]. Plants can be killed by excessive winter wet[2].
Hardy to about -20°c[4].
A biennial or short-lived perennial[4]. The flowers can be air-dried and used as everlasting flowers[2].
A very ornamental plant, it is strongly aromatic and is sometimes cultivated for its essential oil, there are some named varieties[5][6]. When bruised, the leaves release a deliciously pungent and refreshing smell of fresh grapefruit[7].
The flowers are very attractive to bees[7].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8].
Range: Southern Europe to Syria.
Habitat: Rocky igneous slopes, mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland, shale banks and roadsides to 2000 metres in Turkey[9].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked. A strong, warm, aromatic taste and odour[10]. They are used mainly as a flavouring in cooked foods[11][12][13][14], they are similar to sage (S. officinalis)[1]. The leaves can be dipped in batter and cooked to make delicious fritters[6][10].
Flowers - raw. A pleasant taste, they can be sprinkled on chopped salads[6][15], or made into a tea[15].
The plant is sometimes used as a hop substitute in flavouring beer, imparting considerable bitterness and intoxicating properties[3] - it either makes people dead drunk or insanely exhilarated[10]. The leaves have also been used to adulterate wine and give it a muscatel flavour[10].
Medicinal: Clary has been perceived both as a weaker version of sage (Salvia officinalis) and also as a significant herb in its own right[16]. An antispasmodic and aromatic plant, it is used mainly to treat digestive problems such as wind and indigestion[16]. It is also regarded as a tonic, calming herb that helps relieve period pain and pre-menstrual problems. Owing to its oestrogen-stimulating action, it is most effective when levels of this hormone are low[16].
The whole plant, and especially the leaves, is antispasmodic, appetizer, aromatic, astringent, balsamic, carminative, pectoral and tonic[3]. It is useful in treating disorders of the stomach and kidneys and is a valuable remedy for complaints associated with the menopause, particularly hot flushing[3][16]. It should not be prescribed for pregnant women[15]. The leaves can be used fresh or dried, for drying they are harvested before the plant comes into flower[15].
The seed forms a thick mucilage when it is soaked for a few minutes in water. This is efficacious in removing small particles of dust from the eyes[3][15].
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Euphoric'[17].
Usage: An essential oil is obtained from the flowering stems. Called 'Muscatel oil', it has an ambergris aroma and is used in soaps, cosmetics, as a fixative in perfumery etc[1][18][5][19][15].
A drying oil is obtained from the seed, it is used in varnishes, paints etc[5].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Davis, Peter. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press, 1965.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
- ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ Tanaka, Tyōzaburō. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Westwood, Christine. Aromatherapy - A Guide for Home Use. Amberwood Publishing, 1993.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.