Sage (Salvia officinalis 'Icterina')
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❤️ Why you'll love it
A culinary sage selection with aromatic golden-yellow and green variegated leaves, bringing colour to the garden and flavour to the kitchen. Evergreen and drought tolerant once established, with good hardiness and year-round interest.
🌿 Details
How to look after Sage Icterina (Salvia officinalis Icterina) in the UK
Position & Light:
Grow in full sun in a warm, sheltered position. This culinary sage has aromatic, golden-yellow and green variegated leaves, and lilac-blue flowers in early summer. It suits herb gardens, sunny borders, gravel gardens, pots and containers by the kitchen door. The variegated form is slightly less hardy than plain green sage, so shelter is valuable.
Soil & Watering:
Plant in very well-drained, light soil, ideally neutral to slightly alkaline. Add grit to heavy soils or grow in pots with gritty compost. Water regularly after planting until established, then only in prolonged dry spells. Sage is drought tolerant once settled, and wet winter soil is more damaging than cold.
Feeding:
Sage needs little feeding. Avoid rich soil, which results in soft, less aromatic growth. Container plants can be given a weak liquid feed once or twice in summer.
Pruning & Maintenance:
Pick leaves regularly through spring and summer to encourage bushy growth. After flowering, trim plants lightly to keep them compact, avoiding cutting back into old wood, as it may not regrow. Plants become woody and leggy after four or five years, so take softwood cuttings in early summer to keep a supply of fresh plants. In cold areas, protect plants with fleece in severe winters.
Common Problems:
- Rotting: Caused by wet, heavy soil, especially in winter. Improve drainage and add grit.
- Woody, leggy plants: Natural with age. Trim regularly and replace plants every few years.
- Frost damage: Variegated sage is slightly tender. Shelter and protect in severe weather.
- Reversion to green: Cut out any plain green shoots.
- Pests: Mostly trouble-free, though aphids and slugs may occasionally appear.
Supplied bare root, carefully packed with a moisture source to ensure freshness.
Plant height: approximately 10cm.
Please remember that most plants (except Evergreens) are dormant in Autumn/Winter so your order may have no leaves until Spring.
🪴 What Does Bare Root Mean?
Our plants have their full root systems but are carefully removed from the pot and soil before delivery.
The roots are wrapped in moist material and eco-friendly packaging to keep them fresh during transit.
It's less messy, reduces waste, and allows the plant to settle into your garden more easily once planted.
🌱 Sustainably Grown in Britain
Plants are sustainably grown and harvested at our nursery in the South West UK, without the use of pesticides or herbicides.
Packaged using biodegradable materials for an eco-conscious delivery.
📜 Certified & Compliant
We are APHA-authorized for Plant Passports: your assurance that our plants are healthy, pest-free, and meet UK plant health regulations.
🚚 Combined Postage & Fast Dispatch
No extra delivery charge when you buy multiple plants from us! Simply add all the plants you love to your basket and pay one flat delivery fee at checkout.
Shipped via UPS Express, so they are in transit for less than 24 hours: includes care cards tailored to each plant you order.
Orders are sent out at the beginning of each week to reduce time in transit,
see Delivery information.
📌 Planting Advice
Upon arrival, plant immediately in a cool, shaded spot (indoors or outdoors) and water thoroughly.
Once new growth appears, move to the final growing location.
💚 Our Guarantee
If your plant doesn't survive delivery*, just send us a photo and we'll send a replacement (or issue a refund).
No hassle, no worries.
* provided you accept the first delivery attempt