50 Fun Facts About Sage (with Photos & Details)

Sage is a plant that has been used for centuries in cooking and medicine. It’s one of the most versatile herbs, so it goes well with many dishes! In this article, we’ll be exploring 25 fun facts about sage. 

• Order: Lamiales
• Family: Lamiaceae
• Genus: Salvia
• Species: S. officinalis
• Scientific Name: Salvia officinalis

Description: Sage is a low-growing, evergreen that grows to about 24-36″ inches tall. It has wire green leaves and clusters of yellow or purple flowers in the summer. Sage is a perennial, which means it stays green all year round and will die if not brought inside during the winter. It can take up to nine months before producing anything, so patience will be needed until you see any type of harvest.

Grow Tips #1: They should be planted during the spring as soon as it can be done because they don’t do well with being transplanted later in life. Also, don’t plant them under trees because the shade can keep them from flowering properly if they are around other plants that produce taller foliage, then they will compete with those plants for sun exposure.

Grow Tip #2: They do best in full sun and require watering on a regular basis, but not too much to where the plants get waterlogged. They love having lots of organic matter around them. Furthermore, they can be planted in the ground, or they can be planted indoors. Many people transplant their sage from 10 inches in pot size to under a plant stand or window sill and then up about 18 inches every few years until they are ready to have them go into the ground again.

Harvest Tip: To store fresh sage leaves, wash them in cold water and dry them. In order to preserve the green color of the leaves, they are typically stored in plastic containers or bags that are slightly damp. This will help keep them fresh for up to two weeks. If you find your sage leaf is already starting to dry out, simply place it on a plate with a nearly dry paper towel or a cloth underneath it. Be sure the leaf does not touch any moisture directly, as this can cause it to mildew. Place another dampened paper towel or cloth on top of the sage leaf and put another plate on top of it so there is pressure to flatten it out more (this also helps add oxygen).

Related Post: How to grow Sage at home?

Fun Facts About Sage

• Sage was traditionally the plant of wisdom and knowledge.

• Its leaves were a popular symbol of wisdom in Ancient Greece.

• The German philosopher and author Friedrich Nietzsche is considered to be the father of modern day “sage” as we know it today.

• The term sage has been used to refer to experts in many fields since the 1750s, including philosophy, art, journalism, and writing.

• Sage has been an active ingredient in many plants throughout history such as the flowers that gave us tea during the Tang dynasty. 

• It was consumed for its medicinal value in the 17th century.

• It was once used to cure hysteria and epilepsy.

• The Ancient Greeks believed it helped increase one’s mental capacity and improve memory recall.

• They also believed it could help with inflammation, mouth sores, colic and the pain of broken bones.

• In France, sage is known as “Herbe a la douleur” (herb of pain).

• Sage is said to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by improving blood circulation within the brain. 

• It is also used to treat joint pain and muscle cramps and as a laxative.

• It is an effective treatment for diabetes because it regulates blood sugar by reducing levels of insulin in the body.

• It can reduce the symptoms of depression by lowering the levels of stress hormones.

• Sage is often used in baking to enhance other flavors of food, such as chocolate or cheese.

• Sage gives a warm and woodsy flavor to iced tea, especially French vanilla herb tea.

• Sage smoke can be used as incense within religious ceremonies and rituals, for example, burning it in a Yule log.

• It is also used to drive away pests such as mice, rats, and roaches.

• Sage can be used to ward off evil spirits.

• Historically, sage was used as a purgative to cleanse the intestines of gall bladder stones and other waste matter.

• To assess the effectiveness of some herbal remedies, sage is often put inside the stomach of a chicken or turkey before slaughtering it for food.

• The first recorded use of sage in Chinese medicine was in 2600 BC. 

• The Chinese believed that it made their body stronger by stimulating blood circulation and improving their immune system.

• In ancient Rome, sage was used by Druids for purification rites at burial sites. 

• Sage was first used by the ancient Greeks as both food and medicine.

• The Romans would consume it in honey wine with vinegar or dilute it in wine before drinking. 

• When sage leaves are rubbed together, they release a spicy aroma that clears sinuses and freshens breath. 

• Sage is often found growing wild in the United States, and it’s common to find plants around 1-2 feet tall. 

• In Ancient Rome, women would use dried leaves of sage during childbirth to ease pain.

• The leaves of the plant are most commonly picked from September through November.

• Sage can be eaten raw, but typically is dried and ground into a powder. 

• Sage contains chemicals such as salvia rosmarinic acid, which have been shown to fight against bacterial growth.

• There are over 700 species of sage worldwide.

• The name “sage” comes from the Latin word “salvia,” which means “to heal.”

• Sage was once thought to ward off evil spirits. 

• Sage leaves are most commonly used as a seasoning because of their distinct taste.

• Sage is believed to be the oldest culinary herb in Europe, dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome.

• Did you know that it was used in ancient Rome to embalm bodies of the deceased, prevent infections, or as a natural mosquito repellent?

• If you were to plant it in your garden, the scent will ward off pests and other critters like mice or squirrels who might want to eat your plants.

• Sage has been used for centuries to cleanse spaces and people of negative energy.