Sage comes in about 900 different species. A distinction is made between annual and perennial varieties, subshrubs and shrubs, as well as ornamental and medicinal plants.
The ornamental sage 'alba' impresses with its beautiful white blossom
General characteristics of ornamental sage
Many types of sage come from Asia or south-eastern Europe. Are annual or perennial perennials that grow up to 50 cm high on average. However, there are also varieties that reach almost a meter in height. The long stems of ornamental sage are square and woody at the bottom. The flower candles consist of many small flowers and are an attractive eye-catcher in the bed over a long period of time (flowering often from June to October). Some varieties exude a pleasant scent.
The flowers come in the basic colors violet, blue, red and white, although an infinite number of color mixtures already exist and are being expanded by new breeds.
The diversity of varieties
The best-known variety is probably the steppe or grove sage, which impresses the garden owner with its pleasant scent, a long flowering period and impressive flower candles. The steppe sage originally comes from eastern Central Europe, but is now also native here.
As a classic, it flowers blue, like the Blauhügel variety, or violet-blue, like the Ostfriesland variety. The cultivar 'Amethyst' flowers in a very delicate lilac (almost pink), the variety Schneehügel flowers in pure white.
Other varieties:
- Berggarten, compact growth and broad leaves
- Alba, with pure white flowers
- Rosea, with pink flowers
- Caradonna, dark violet flowers in June/July and September, very dark stalks, hardy, up to 50 cm high
- Viola Klose, dark violet flowers in May and June, second flowering possible in September, hardy, up to 40 cm high
- Rose wine, with dark pink flowers and burgundy sepals in June/July, second flowering in September, hardy, nice companion for white and pink roses
- Snow King, with white, large flowers in summer, 60 cm high, needs winter protection
- May to September with very dark blue panicles of flowers, up to 40 cm high
- Negrito, with dark violet flowers, quite low at only 25 cm high, flowers from May to October
- Pusztaflamme, with dusky pink flowers from June to September, 40 cm high
- Rügen, with dark blue flowers from June to August, up to 40 cm high
- Wesuwe, with violet flowers from June to August, good contrast with the dark green leaves, up to 45 cm high