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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae) (Mints) |
| Origin: Mediterranean (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Blue |
| Bloomtime: Summer |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: < 0 °F |
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Salvia officinalis 'Superb' (Superb Sage) – A robust perennial, evergreen subshrub to 3 feet tall with upright stems holding narrow 4 inch long gray-green aromatic leaves topped by 1 inch long 2 lipped violet blue flowers in whorls on short spikes from mid spring to early summer. Plant in full sun in a well-draining soil and irrigate infrequently - tolerates dry, alkaline and shallow soils but will suffer in winter if soils do not drain or if overwatered. Very cold hardy (-30 °F) and useful down to USDA Zone 4. This is a very nice and showy plant for the perennial border or mixed in with other mediterranean climate shrubs. It attracts bees and butterflies the leaves can be used fresh or dried in cooking as a seasoning but use caution as it can also be toxic if used in excess. This plant has long been in cultivation for its medicinal and culinary use and more recently as an ornamental garden plant but its native range is thought to have originated in south eastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula and naturalized many millennia ago throughout the Mediterranean region, from the Iberia peninsula east to the Balkans and in northern Africa. This plant was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 and had been cultivated for centuries for its food and medicinal properties. The specific epithet "officinalis" refers to the plant's medicinal use as 'officina' was the word used for the storeroom of a monastery where herbs and medicines were stored and so plants so named are known for their medicinal or culinary value. Is called by the common names sage, garden sage, common sage, culinary sage Dalmatian sage and broadleaf sage. This fantastic selection was given unnamed to us by Carol Bornstein, Director of the Nature Gardens at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. To designate the qualities of this plant we now call this cultivar 'Superb'.
This information about Salvia officinalis 'Superb' displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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