Meadow clary Salvia pratensis

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

S. pratensis is a clump-forming, woody-based perennial with wrinkled, oval leaves to 20cm in length, and erect stems bearing long spikes of violet-blue, rarely pink or white, flowers 2-3cm long, in early and midsummer

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Lamiaceae
- Synonyms
  Meadow Sage, Meadow Clary, Wild Clary
- Common names
  Salvia haematodes, Salvia grandiflora, Sclarea pratensis.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Purple
- Height
  2 feet (0.6 meters)
- Spread
  1 foot (0.3 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  4
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Salvia pratensis is known for attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects to the garden, helping to pollinate plants.
- Aesthetic Appeal: With its striking blue or purple flowers, it adds color and visual interest to garden landscapes and wildflower meadows.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant, requiring minimal watering and maintenance, which is beneficial in arid climates.
- Erosion Control: Its root system can help stabilize soil and control erosion, particularly on slopes or in areas with loose soil.
- Food Source for Wildlife: The seeds and nectar of Salvia pratensis provide a food source for various wildlife, including birds and insects.
- Culinary Use: The leaves of Salvia pratensis can be used in cooking as an herb, adding flavor to various dishes.
- Garden Design: Can be used effectively in borders, meadow plantings, and cottage gardens to add structure and height.
- Easy Propagation: It can be easily propagated from seed, making it simple for gardeners to spread the plant throughout their gardens.
Medical Properties
- Anti-inflammatory: Salvia pratensis has been reported to contain compounds that may help reduce inflammation in the body.
- Antioxidant: Components in the plant can act as antioxidants, helping to protect the body against oxidative stress and free radicals.
- Antimicrobial: The plant exhibits antimicrobial properties that may be effective against certain bacteria and fungi.
- Estrogenic activity: Salvia pratensis has been found to contain phytoestrogens, which can mimic the activity of estrogen in the body.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Meadow sage can be used as a natural dye, providing various shades of blue to fabrics when treated properly with mordants.
- In the garden, Salvia pratensis provides nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects, thereby supporting local biodiversity.
- This plant is sometimes used in floral arrangements for its attractive spikes of blue-violet flowers.
- Meadow sage can be incorporated into a wildflower meadow where it contributes to a visually striking and environmentally beneficial habitat.
- With its vibrant flowers, Salvia pratensis can be planted as part of a butterfly garden to attract and support these insects.
- The plant can also be used to create borders or accents in landscaping because of its structured and upright growth habit.
- Gardeners may use meadow sage as a companion plant in vegetable gardens to attract beneficial insects that can help control pests.
- Seed heads of Salvia pratensis can be left on the plant during winter to provide food for birds and add visual interest to the garden in the colder months.
- The dried flowers can be utilized in potpourris for their aromatic properties and to add a natural element to home decor.
- When used in a xeriscape garden design, meadow sage can help reduce water usage due to its drought-tolerant characteristics.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Salvia pratensis, commonly known as meadow clary or meadow sage, is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Meadow sage is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Healing: Salvia pratensis, more commonly known as Meadow Sage, is often associated with healing due to its medicinal properties that have been recognized since ancient times.
- Protection: Meadow Sage is believed to offer protection against evil, which is why it was often planted near dwellings in the past.
- Wisdom: The name Salvia is derived from Latin 'salvere' meaning "to save" or "to heal," reflecting an association with wisdom and the search for truth.
- Immortality: Meadow Sage has been connected with immortality because it is a perennial plant that returns each year, symbolizing renewal and the enduring cycle of life.
- Purification: The plant is often linked to purifying rituals and cleansing due to its aromatic properties that are thought to cleanse the air and surroundings when burned.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to early summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Meadow Sage requires moderate watering; during the growing season, it should be watered every few days to maintain moist soil, approximately once or twice a week. Each watering session should provide enough water to soak the soil to a depth of about an inch, which typically equates to around 0.5 to 0.75 gallons per plant, depending on the size and the environmental conditions. In the peak summer heat, watering frequency might increase. During the winter dormant period, reduce watering to only when the soil is dry to the touch, which might be once every two to three weeks, to avoid waterlogging and root rot.
Light
Meadow Sage thrives best in full sun conditions, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. A spot that provides bright, unfiltered sunlight throughout the day is ideal. Avoid locations that are overly shaded, as this can lead to sparse blooms and a leggy growth habit.
Temperature
Meadow Sage is hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, but the ideal growing temperature is between 60°F and 70°F. It can survive minimum temperatures down to about -30°F and can handle summer temperatures well into the 90s°F, provided it is watered adequately.
Pruning
Pruning Meadow Sage is done to encourage bushier growth and more blooms. After the first flush of flowers fade, trim back the flower spikes to just above the first set of leaves to promote a second bloom. Pruning should be done immediately after the initial bloom, which is typically in late spring or early summer, and can be repeated if subsequent flushes of flowers occur.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Meadow Sage prefers well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 to 8.0. A mix of garden soil, compost, and coarse sand or perlite can provide the right structure. Regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season will support its growth.
Repotting
Meadow Sage should be repotted every 1-2 years to replenish the soil nutrients. Overcrowded plants can be divided and repotted in the spring to give them space to grow.
Humidity & Misting
Meadow Sage thrives in average humidity conditions found in a typical outdoor environment and does not require any special humidity adjustments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Meadow Sage in bright light and well-draining soil indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant Meadow Sage in full sun with soil that drains well.
- Hardiness zone
  4-8 USDA
Life cycle
Salvia pratensis, commonly known as Meadow Sage, starts its life cycle as a seed, often spread naturally by wind or wildlife. Upon germination, which typically occurs in the spring, the seeds develop into small seedlings with characteristic embryonic leaves (cotyledons). With adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients, these seedlings grow into vegetative plants, producing larger leaves arranged in a rosette and developing a robust root system. Meadow Sage enters its reproductive stage in late spring to early summer when it sends up flowering stalks adorned with violet-blue flowers that attract various pollinators. After pollination, usually by bees, the flowers develop into dry fruits known as nutlets, which contain the seeds for the next generation. The plant may die back to the ground with the first frost in colder climates, while in milder regions, it can persist through winter into multiple growing seasons, making it a perennial.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to early summer
- Propogation: Salvia pratensis, commonly known as Meadow sage, is often propagated by seed. The optimal time for sowing Meadow sage seeds is in spring after the last frost when soil temperatures have risen, making it conducive for seed germination. One of the most popular propagation methods is to direct sow the seeds into the garden space where you wish to grow the plants. To do this, prepare the soil by loosening it and creating a fine tilth, then scatter the seeds lightly over the surface. Barely cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil—no more than 1/8 inch deep. It's important to keep the soil consistently moist until the seeds germinate, which typically occurs within two to three weeks. Once the seedlings have grown to a sufficient size, thin them to about 12 to 18 inches apart to allow enough room for the plants to reach their full size.