Sage is a woody, hardy perennial plant with oblong, wooly, gray-green leaves that are lighter underneath and darker on top. Sage grows 2 to 3 feet (60 cm to 1 meter) in height and has a tendency to sprawl. There are many types of sage including purple and variegated cultivars.

Ideal growing conditions- Sage grows best in a sunny location with poor to fairly rich, light, dry, well-drained soil.

Cultivation- When starting from seed; sow directly in the garden 1/8 inch (30mm) deep, in late spring. Thin to 2 ft. (60cm) apart when seedlings are 4 in. (10cm) tall. Once established, prune the plants severely in the spring to keep them from setting seed, and replace them every 3 years or so, as they will become less productive and somewhat woody.Propagation of sage can be achieved by cuttings, layering, division, or seeds.

Sage attracts bees and grows well with rosemary. Sage also helps repel cabbage butterflies and improves the flavor of cabbage.
 

Known Pests- of sage are: Slugs, spider mites, spittle bugs.

Known Diseases- Root rot and wilt.
 

Harvesting- Harvest sage before the plant flowers. Gather sprigs, tie in a loose bundle and hang upside down in a cool, airy place. Do not dry in direct sunlight. When the sprigs are dry and brittle, remove the leaves from the stems. You can store sage either crumbled or whole as whole leaves in airtight containers.

Uses- This aromatic and slightly bitter herb is noted for its use in stuffing for poultry, rabbit, pork, and baked fish. It also can be used in sausage or meat loaves. Sage is used as an aromatic, in cosmetics, culinary, decorative, and medicinal. Sage is used for insect repellent and for fragrance in potpourris.

It also is used for infusions to color hair silver and it stimulates the skin in facial steams, baths, and lotions. It flavors vinegars, herbal butter, omelets, soups, and poultry stuffing. Fresh sage is sometimes added to salads. Because it dries well, it is used in herbal wreaths (especially culinary) and nosegays.

It can be grown in containers. It is said to have some medicinal qualities some of which include; sage as a natural aid in digestion, and when consumed moderately, the tea can boost insulin activity and reduce blood sugar, thus possibly being a help to diabetics, but your doctor should be consulted before drinking sage tea, Sage tea can also be used to relieve the discomfort of measles, dizziness, colds, fever, and headaches.